DANIEL Cross says he’s a genuine Melbourne man now, although he still loves the Western Bulldogs and has great memories after playing 210 matches with the club.

Cross, who was claimed as a delisted free agent last month, is now Melbourne’s most experienced player – in games and age. And despite having carved out a fine AFL career with the Bulldogs, he is determined to make an impact at the Demons.

“I’m a Melbourne player now and I’m fully committed to helping the Melbourne Football Club move their way up the ladder and I’m so thankful for the opportunity that I’ve been given by the coaching staff and the staff in general,” he said.

“I’ll hopefully make the Melbourne supporters proud as well.”

Cross’ observations of Melbourne before he joined the club was that it needed some genuine “direction”, but he was adamant it was happening under coach Paul Roos.

“I think some real strong direction of what the team will stand for and a real strong game plan of what the players will all buy into,” he said.

“That’s the main thing that I believe any good team needs. No matter what the coaches say, if the players don’t buy into it, agree to it and abide by it, then it’s a waste of time.

“From the [recent pre-season] camp, that’s something that came across pretty strongly – that guys were tending to break off into different directions. [But] pulling together and uniting as one team is going to be a big thing for this group, coming into next season.”

Cross said he was feeling “really fresh and energised” already. And he added that the positivity among the group had replaced the negative feeling that he engulfed the squad following a season of losses in 2013.

“It’s a fresh start for me coming to a new club and a fresh start for the players that have been here for however many years as well,” he said.

“I haven’t missed a beat yet; I haven’t missed a session, so I’m feeling really good.” 

The midfielder said he had been impressed with several emerging leaders, highlighting Jack Viney and Jimmy Toumpas.  

“They were two guys who really impressed me straight away – not just at the camp, but in their training,” he said.

“They’re free to speak their minds and they’re not afraid to make mistakes. That’s great from 18 and 19 year olds to see. They’re willing to voice their opinions.

“There’s many young guys that’ll come through together and I think the club’s on the right track in regards to the way they’re recruiting their players.”

But Cross said he didn’t want to hamper the development of the younger players.

“Whatever role, he (Roos) gives me, I’m happy to play – whether it’s tagging someone or if Jimmy Toumpas needs to come into the middle and I need to roll out to half-forward, then we’ll do that,” he said.

“It’ll be around the midfield, half-forward or half-back at times, but my main thing is to make sure the side is well balanced and the younger players are playing their role as well.”