COACH Paul Roos says dealing with the buzz surrounding Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood is another critical step for his developing team to handle.

Roos said it wasn’t unusual for the Magpies to play in front of large attendances and it was something his players needed to adapt to quickly this round.

“I’m looking forward to it – going to the MCG for a big crowd. Hopefully we get 75,000 to 80,000 people there. It’ll be a first for me to play a home and away game with that crowd. I’m sure the players are really excited about it,” he said on Dee TV’s Roos’ Views.

“Collingwood is used to it and play regularly in front of big crowds. For us, it’s part of our learning curve and hopefully a lot of Melbourne supporters get there on Monday.”

Roos said 2010 Collingwood premiership player and now key Melbourne forward Chris Dawes was an important return, after serving a one-match suspension last round.

“Dawesy’s a really important player for us – we missed him early in the season and he came back against Carlton and did really well and he’s been really consistent for us.”

“He’s just a real competitor and a great leader so we’ll definitely get him back in the team. Whoever misses out is going to be a little bit stiff, but we need Dawesy back in the side.”

In terms of any other changes this round, Roos reiterated that players needed to “have a consistent bank of form to get into the side”. 

“I think that’s made a big difference to the psychology of the players – they understand that they’re just not going to walk back into the side. Early in the year, it meant that a few players were playing in the seniors that were maybe not in great form – I think that’s turned around now,” he said. 

“Even though we’ve only won three games, certainly the last seven games, it’s been a consistent block of football. Most of the boys playing seniors are doing the things we want them to do.

“So it’s really about the seconds knocking the door down and just being in consistently good form. That’s really where the discussion goes – are they eligible for selection? Then we discuss those players that are playing well in the seconds and it’s just a matter of whether you can fit them in or not.”

Reflecting on last round’s 20-point loss to top of the ladder Port Adelaide, Roos said he took plenty of positives from Monday’s review.

“We did a lot of things right and played some really good football and if you take your coaching hat off, it was a super game to watch,” he said.

“We’re starting to play the footy we want to play and it’s just trying to do it for longer and against the better teams. That’s why they’re the best teams, because they just keep doing what they do, regardless of scoreboard, regardless of time of game and regardless of momentum.

“They just keep doing what they do well and that’s what Port did. In the end, they were just a bit too good for us.”