Melbourne recruit Dom Tyson reveals Paul Roos was a key to decision to quit GWS

DOM Tyson left his bedroom two years ago, a number three pick in the draft whose prized possession was a Matthew Richardson poster on his wall.

DOM Tyson left his Camberwell bedroom two years ago, a number three pick in the draft whose prized possession was a Matthew Richardson poster on his wall.

This week he returned to the same bedroom and the same "Richo" poster, the differences being he is now a number two pick and plays for Melbourne rather than the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Tyson, 20, is symptomatic of today’s AFL world where you can leave for the wedding of a teammate (Setanta O’hAilpin) in Hawaii wearing orange, charcoal and white and return calling navy blue and red your favourite colours.

And that was after growing up a passionate yellow and black fan, hence the Richardson poster on his bedroom wall.

Sadly Richo will be given a new resting place and Tyson will set about trying to justify the enormous faith Melbourne has placed in him when parting with Picks 2, 20 and 72 for Tyson and selections 9 and 53.

“Changing clubs when I left for Hawaii was the furthest thing from my mind, I hadn’t expressed any interest in returning home,” said Tyson.

“The year before there was a little talk with Richmond but I re-signed and then got a knee injury which threw me a bit but all my discussions with the Giants were about getting fit and getting a pre-season into me.

“Fortunately the knee is now 100 percent so I’m ready to go.”

Which is what Melbourne supporters want to hear given the club is desperate for midfield depth. Style-wise he is described as strong in contested footy and clearances, plus clever with his hands in close.

As for having already been a Pick 3 and 2 in his two-year and 13-game career, Tyson laughs.

“At least I’m going up. All that external stuff I can’t worry about, I just a have to worry about what my coaches say. Paul Roos and George Stone really impressed me with their honesty when we met.

“And I love the thought of playing at the MCG. I went to GWS to play football but there are extra responsibilities such as clinics where early on all they asked was 'where’s Izzy (Israel Folau)’.

“Now at least they want to know about "Jezza" (Jeremy Cameron) and he is quickly becoming a superstar up there, next to Adam Goodes.

“Where we first were, it’s all rugby. The boys couldn’t get to Homebush quickly enough when the move was announced. The players now have a chance to get closer to places like Bondi and Coogee.”

The friendships he made at the Giants with players such as Stephen Coniglio and Toby Greene will remain, as will two jumpers he owns with pride.

One is the club’s first match in the 2012 local derby against the Swans, the other the team’s inaugural win over the Gold Coast Suns on April 27, 2012, in Canberra.

Good memories but nothing more given Tyson has business to take care of as he tries to forge a new career with the Demons. Melbourne believe injury, form and home-sickness combined to prevent him from displaying his best in 2011-2012, not unlike Josh Caddy with the Suns before he joined Geelong in a breakout 2012 season.