New Demon Daniel Cross tells of pain of leaving Western Bulldogs; excited by new challenge

DANIEL Cross says being no longer wanted by the Western Bulldogs was tough. But he's excited by his Demons switch.

Daniel Cross says the Paul Roos-coached Demons aim to be hard to play against. Picture: Colleen Petch

MELBOURNE'S seasoned newcomer Daniel Cross felt right at home from the first training session.

Tackling was the priority and that tough approach has been his admirable trademark in 210 games during a stellar career at the Western Bulldogs.

Cross said the focus instantly signalled a harder edge for the 2014 Demons under new coach Paul Roos and he's itching to get stuck into it.

"We've certainly started with a lot of grappling. It's the first thing I did at the club in our first training session," he said.

"Roosy's really big on being hard around the footy and hard to play against. His style was always big on stoppages and that's something with the game plan we're going to be rolling out.''

A fit and firing Cross may well be one of the pick-ups of the off-season, particularly considering the midfield ball-magnet's body as well as mind is fit and fresh.

DEES CALL IN LEADERSHIP HELP

He managed only 13 games this season to miss the Bulldogs' best and fairest top 10 for the first time in a decade - an award he won once and finished runner-up in four times.

"It was really hard for me to hear that the club I was drafted to (didn't want him). I love that club dearly and that will never leave me, but I'm a Melbourne player now and fully committed to helping the club move up the ladder."

Cross has strong views on what the Demons must do to regain respect following a three-day planning camp at Sorrento earlier this week.

"I think some real strong direction of what the team will stand for. A real strong game plan that all the players will buy into,'' he said.

"That's the main thing I believe any good team needs. No matter what the coaches say, if the players don't buy into it, agree to it and abide to it, it's a waste of time.

Daniel Cross says the Paul Roos-coached Demons aim to be hard to play against. Picture: Colleen Petch

"From the camp, that's something that came across pretty strongly, that guys were tending to break off in different directions and pulling together and uniting as one as a team is going to be a big thing for this group coming into next season.

"Something that was brought up at the camp was a bit of the negativity that had been hanging around the last couple of years. Walking in the door straight away, I wouldn't have known any different, the positivity has been there right from the start.

"You don't want to see teammates down in the tooth about things that have happened in the past and a lot of them have put that behind them. We have a brand new coaching staff and 11 new players on the list, so it's not only a fresh start for me coming here, but a fresh start for players who have been here for however many years.

"Probably two that stand out were Jack Viney and Jimmy Toumpas. They were two guys who impressed me straight away. They're free to speak their minds, but they're not afraid to make mistakes and that's great from 18, 19-year-olds to see them willing to voice their opinions.

"There's many young guys who will come through. I think the club's on the right track the way they're recruiting their players."

Cross said he was "fresh and energised" to reboot his AFL career in whatever role Roos decides suits the opponent and occasion.

VINCE HOPES HE NEVER CHANGES

"Definitely speaking to him the first time, we spoke about three or four different roles I can play," he said.

"It's about me coming in as an older player. I don't want to hamper the development of their younger players, so whatever role he gives me, I'm happy to play.

"Whether it's tagging someone, if Jimmy Toumpas needs to come into the middle and I need to roll out to half-forward. It will be around the midfield and half-forward and half-back at times.

"My job, like I've done in the past 13 years, is to go about my business, train as hard as I possible can, do the extras while people are not watching and that gives you the best opportunity to be in the best 22 or the starting 18.

"It all comes out in your training and work ethic and my mindset has never changed one bit."