CO-CAPTAIN Nathan Jones says the news of coach Paul Roos committing to a third season has “given the players a real lift”.

Jones said it was just the news the players wanted towards the end of Roos’ first season at the helm.

“It’s great news for the footy club,” he told Dee TV.

“To get Roosy to commit for that third year, it’s given the club some real stability and it continues our direction forward.

“He’s really set us on a clear path and we’re really excited.”

Jones said securing Roos for the 2016 season added genuine strength to the club. 

“The stability is the main thing. He’s really set us up with a really strong system and I think we’re well on our way to building something strong,” he said.

“We’re working really hard to build a respected culture and really be recognised by our onfield performances – whether that’s a win or a loss – it’s more how we play the game.

“He’s really setting that up with his coaching group and I think for him to have that each 12 months to work with us, I hoping by then we’re in a really good position and a really strong, competitive footy side. And then who knows beyond that?”

With five matches remaining for the Demons in 2014, Jones said they were eager to gain as much as possible from the matches.

“Roosy’s really pushed us for the last five weeks to squeeze out as much as we can. We’re not going to make finals, but there’s still a lot to gain. There are big challenges and some real opportunities there,” he said.

“We’ve got a couple of away trips and we play some pretty strong sides over that period and some sides that are in some real form, so it’s another opportunity for us to really build on what we’re trying to achieve and test our system.

“I think an issue throughout the year has been our consistency and it’s probably how we played against Port, although we didn’t get the four points. Can we replicate that for the next five weeks? That’s our challenge and that’s what Roosy and the coaching staff are really pushing.”

Jones said last round’s bye came at a good time for the players and coaches.

“It’s up in the air in terms of the fans support of having a couple of byes, but I think from a players’ point of view, we really enjoyed it. That showed yesterday (Monday) at training – we had a pretty big session,” he said.

“We tried to replicate half to three quarters of a game and the players trained really well and it should set us up well to finish off the year. It’s been a pretty long year and for the teams that aren’t going to make the finals, it can be easy to peter out towards that next five weeks, but for us as a footy club – that’s a real focus for us not to do that.

“Like I said before, the efforts and the way we played against Port Adelaide is something we’re trying to replicate over the next five weeks and really head into pre-season with some momentum from how we finished.”

Jones added that the break was also good as he “tried to catch up on some sleep” now that he has a new baby, Bobbi.

“It’s great fun at the moment. Sleep’s been relatively consistent, but my wife’s been taking one for the team,” he said.

“It’s been amazing fun and waking up in the middle of the night and not having as good as sleep as previously has taken a bit of adjusting.

“But we’re both loving it and it’s been good fun.”