NEW DEMON Heritier Lumumba says he was convinced to join Melbourneafter visiting Paul Roos' family and meeting his new teammates at formerMagpie Chris Dawes’ wedding.
“I always looked at him [Roos] and thought I’d love to be coachedby him. He’s a classy person … and it was [Roos’ wife] Tami who got meover the line,” Lumumba said in his first media conference as aMelbourne player on Friday.
The 28-year-old defender said he was impressed with Melbourne's list and had noticed its improvement from afar.
Lumumba can play in defence or on the wing and is expected toprovide the Demons with run and drive through the middle, however hesaid he would play whatever role he was asked.
He said his relationship with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley hadendured 10 years and hoped it would remain positive. He said he owed alot to Buckley who was Lumumba's captain when he arrived at Collingwoodas a rookie in 2005, and despite the change he was still enjoying hisfootball.
Paul and Tami Roos at the Field of Women breakfast in 2014. Picture: AFL Media
Lumumba was an All Australian in Collingwood's 2010 premiershipyear and despite some off-field setbacks, continued to maintain a highstandard in defence.
Melbourne has indicated to Lumumba that it is happy for him tocontinue in his role as a multicultural ambassador through the AFL'smulticultural program.
"That is a genuine interest of mine," Lumumba said on Friday.
So after a no-fault divorce with Collingwood, Lumumba is in newcolours and ready to make an impression just 100 metres down the roadfrom the Westpac Centre.
