CO-CAPTAIN Jack Grimes says the Demons are attempting to emulate the type of game style the Sydney Swans play.

Speaking to 1116 SEN radio on Monday, Grimes said coach Paul Roos’ influence at the Swans in the past decade had naturally pointed to their style of play.

“There are times we’re playing messy footy, because so much of the emphasis from Roosy from day one has been on the defence. It’s clearly an area we had to clean up because we were just getting scored so heavily against,” he said.

“We probably knew that in trying to equal in that – that the games would get a bit messy at times and we almost wanted that, because in the past, that’s the exact opposite of what they’ve been – they’ve been open and free-flowing and [we’ve been] getting scored really easily against.

“He keeps getting into us that once we get this defence right and we can limit the opposition scoring – the offence will come and it will come naturally. First of all, we have to slow them down and we to have win the ball back and put the opposition under pressure.

“I know what it can be like to see as well at times, because it can be pretty messy and it is pretty hard to watch … the way that Sydney does it these days, that’s the model that we’re trying to work towards.”

Grimes said the players had faith in Roos from the moment he joined the club – even if there had been some tough matches early on. 

“It has been a little bit of a roller-coaster to a certain extent, but there has been that hope always there,” he said.

“Roosy’s really good after each game – no matter how the result turns up – that he reviews it the exact same way and the exact same points.

“We do have the confidence that if we can just ingrain what he’s teaching us and ingrain those certain behaviours, we’ll be competitive. On the weekend was one of those days.”

The almost 25-year-old said the players were relishing playing under Roos, but added that they weren’t getting caught up in the coach’s tenure, given he signed for 2014-15, with an option for 2016.

“It doesn’t play on the players’ minds. I don’t think players really look too much further ahead – even the end of the season, to be honest,” he said.

“We know he’s only seven weeks into his campaign and we’ve been really enjoying it, and we feel like we’ve been improving.

“Who knows what could happen in two years – so we’re not really going to be thinking ‘what’s going to happen in the third’. It doesn’t [play on the players’ minds], but if it happened [that he stayed on past two seasons] we’d absolutely love it, if he committed [to three years or more].”

Grimes said Roos told the players to soak up their round seven win over the Adelaide Crows on the road, but to also reload for this Saturday night’s clash against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. 

“To get a win like this over in Adelaide, where we haven’t won for 13 years – I was just rapt the way we won [because] Adelaide was really coming in the second half,” he said.

“It probably wasn’t pretty, but we just found a way to hold on.

“That’s what we’ve struggled to do in the past – when we’ve been challenged by teams is to respond. Roosy was rapt after the game and he said ‘really enjoy it, but at the same time, we’ve got to move on to this week as well, because we want to back up’.”

Although pleased with several teammates, Grimes praised Chris Dawes’ game, saying the key forward stood up against the Crows.

“He provided a target all night and probably hasn’t had the reward for effort the last few weeks – he’s provided a lot of contests, but it was great to see him duking the ball and going back and slotting a few like he did,” he said.

Meanwhile, Grimes said it was “a real privilege” for the players and club to be involved in the Field of Women clash this round.

“We are looking for as many people as possible to come along and support such a great cause. It looks awesome the ‘G dressed up in pink and it’s going to be a great night and hopefully a good game of footy as well,” he said.

“I’d encourage anyone that’s thinking about it to get along – it helps support all the families going through hard times with breast cancer, so it’ll be a great night to get along.”