Lynden Dunn says Melbourne Demons ‘becoming a good club again’ under Paul Roos

LYNDEN Dunn believes Melbourne are on track to “become a good club again” as they look to build on a promising 2014 season.

Round 13: Essendon v Melbourne AFLR1314 Picture : Wayne Ludbey Lynden Dunn

THE Paul Roos effect continues at Melbourne.

Defender Lynden Dunn believes the Demons are on track to “become a good club again” as they look to build on a promising 2014.

After avoiding the wooden spoon, the Demons’ pre-season training has gone to a new level, a level which Dunn says will translate into regular season success.

Roos led the club to four early wins last year - up from just two in the entire 2013 season - but a 10-game losing streak ended the season on a sour note.

Dunn said the training standards during the pre-season were a vastly improved.

The arrival of experienced players like Heritier Lumumba has improved training standards. Picture: David Caird

“In the past, training standards have fluctuated from good to very good to average standard, so we’re just trying to bridge that gap,” Dunn told the club’s website.

“That’ll translate into our footy on game day as well.

“We’ve got some good players at the club now with Heritier [Lumumba], Ben Newton and Jeffy Garlett for example and they’ve let us know that we’re not that far away and we’ve got the talent here.

“I think we’re slowly building the work ethic as well to go with it and become a good footy club again.”

After taking the reins at Melbourne, Roos said he wanted to improve the team’s defence and the Demons ended 2014 ranked 12th in points against, up from 17th in 2013.

Paul Roos chats to assistant Simon Goodwin during pre-season training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Dunn said the players were still getting to know Roos and 2015 would see even more improvement.

“We know what Roosy expects of us and the way he coaches – he understands us better as players, along with the line coaches as well,” he said.

“We’ve got that really good base that we’ve had for 12 to 18 months now and I think it’s going to hold us in good stead going into 2015.”

Dunn said he personally needed to improve his fitness after fading away in the final few rounds of 2014.

“I tailed away, as did the team, towards the end of last season, so I’ve got that drive inside me.

“I just really want to take the footy club forward and being a leader now – it’s up to me and the other leaders to really drive where we’re going, the training standards, the standards off the field and game day.

“It’s a great challenge for us as a leadership group, but I’m really excited for all of the boys that we’ve got in over the trade [and recruiting] period.”

Originally published as Lynden Dunn says Melbourne Demons ‘becoming a good club again’ under Paul Roos