Melbourne’s backwards to go forwards policy clearly evident under new coach Paul Roos

IT was Martin Luther King who once said: “If we are to go forward, we must go back.” Paul Roos must be familiar with the American activist.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Daniel Cross of the Demons handballs whilst being tackled by Robert Murphy of the Bulldogs during the round eight AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 10, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

IT was Martin Luther King who once said: “If we are to go forward, we must go back.”

Paul Roos is obviously familiar with the work of the American activist and humanitarian. Melbourne’s saviour has adopted a similar strategy in his quest to transform the Demons from basket case to competitive football side.

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Under Roos, Melbourne’s philosophy is about going backwards to go forwards.

In their 10 games this year, the Demons’ handballs have resulted in an overall loss of nearly 1.3km — the equivalent of seven lengths of the MCG.

Jack Viney has had 86 handballs this season. He has lost 86m. Picture: Sarah Reed

It is a staggering amount and more than twice as much as the next most defensive handballers, Fremantle.

The philosophy — delivering possession to a teammate with time, space and the field in front of him — is shared by only three other clubs.

The Dockers are going at minus 574m by hand, while Sydney is next with minus 544m. Essendon is the only other side in the negative at minus 307m.

Fremantle is pushing for the top four, Sydney is arguably flag favourites and Melbourne is proving people wrong on a weekly basis.

At the other end of the scale, West Coast has advanced the ball forward by hand a total of 3.4km in its matches.

Geelong (3km), Brisbane Lions and Collingwood (both 2.4km) are also offensively aggressive when it comes to the handpass.

Christian Salem handballs to Viney.

Competition leader Port Adelaide sits around the mid-table mark, going forward 1.8km with its handballing.

Roos has made no secret of his desire to see the ball fed backwards from stoppages. In a series of coaching videos with the Swans Academy broadcast on Fox Footy last year, Roos laid bare his coaching beliefs. One of them was to minimise turnovers by going backwards and buying time.

“Hands! Hands! Hands! Out the back! Out the back!” Roos is heard yelling in the footage.

He then tells the viewer: “The player receiving the ball maintains a close position, always square to the back of the contest. You want your best kick to have the ball, with the skill, vision and composure to execute a damaging disposal.”

Dean Terlich tries to handball before being tackled by Port Adelaide’s Kane Mitchell.

At AFL level, it’s Roos’ stoppage workhorses who are perfectly implementing the plan.

Veteran off-season acquisition Daniel Cross has made 139 handballs, ranked ninth in the AFL. He has bought his teammates a stack of time, handballing backwards nearly 270m.

Dom Tyson (114 handballs at minus 188m), Jack Viney (86 at minus 183m) and Nathan Jones (130 at minus 168m) are also going back to go forward.

Originally published as Melbourne’s backwards to go forwards policy clearly evident under new coach Paul Roos