Melbourne coach Paul Roos says club hopes to one day emulate Fremantle’s size in midfield

PAUL Roos’ thirst for a towering midfield in the mould of Fremantle was a key factor in Melbourne trading away rights to Rising Star favourite Josh Kelly.

PAUL Roos’ thirst for a towering midfield combination in the mould of Fremantle stars Nat Fyfe and David Mundy was a key factor in Melbourne trading away rights to Rising Star favourite Josh Kelly.

The Demons were widely criticised when Kelly stormed onto the AFL scene, winning a GWS contract extension after his first game and a Rising Star nomination after his second.

The 183cm midfielder with pinpoint foot skills was anointed as a future Brownlow Medallist by some recruiting experts, but the Dees handed over pick No.2 (Kelly) and 22 in exchange for No.9 (Chris Salem) and Dom Tyson.

While attending Fremantle’s Grand Final function as a guest of Ross Lyon, Roos was amazed by the size of the Dockers’ engine room.

Paul Roos says the trend of the game is for big midfielders, such as Freo’s Michael Barlow and David Mundy. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

“I couldn’t believe the size of Mundy and (Michael) Barlow and Fyfe, so you’re always looking at trends to see where the game is heading,” he said yesterday.

“I remember going to the draft and looking at some of the midfielders and they’re still only 181-183cm, so I think that was probably the basis of the Tyson (trade).

“Tyson’s (186cm), Bernie Vince is (186), Crossy’s (187), so size in the midfield now is so important.”

Tyson, 20, was best-afield with two goals from 23 disposals as the Dees stunned Richmond on Saturday, while Salem’s big frame and lethal left foot has the Melbourne faithful excited.

A recruiting expert yesterday said the Dockers had the right mix, blending their tall star power with Danyle Pearce (178cm), Nick Suban (182) and Lachie Neale (176), who excel at ground level.

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Another club scout said: “There’s some big blokes going through the midfield now, so there is a bit of a push to find bigger-bodied midfielders that can do the same things but can run.

“I don’t reckon (Kelly) or anyone is too small, but if you’ve got 9-12 blokes playing midfield you’d want 7-8 of them to be a bit taller.”

Brisbane Lions pocket rocket Lewy Taylor (173cm), who was last night named the Round 9 Rising Star nominee, said some recruiters had told him he was too short.

“But the height thing doesn’t worry me one bit and doesn’t affect how hard you can go at the ball,” he said yesterday.

“I’m not the first bloke trying to play the game at my height and I’m sure there’ll be plenty more.”

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Roos said even if the Dees kept pick 2 they would have passed on Kelly.

The Western Bulldogs landed 192cm midfielder Marcus Bontempelli at No.4, excited by his versatility.

Roos also said he is happy to let the Dees approach him about his exit strategy but did not divulge whether he planned to activate the option to extend his rich coaching contract into 2016.

“If they said, look Roosy, we desperately need to know in the next half an hour or next three weeks or whatever, I’m happy to (give an answer),” he said on SEN.

“At the moment everyone at the football club is clear on what’s happening and the succession plan will happen, whether it’s two years or three years.

“But if it becomes an issue then I’m happy to address it, there’s no dramas from my point of view.”