Paul Roos is the new coach of troubled AFL club Melbourne, agreeing to a two-year deal on Friday.
The 2005 Sydney premiership coach has been out of senior coaching for the past three seasons since stepping down from the Swans at the end of 2010.
Roos led the Swans to seven finals appearances in his eight full seasons.
His appointment is a huge coup for the Demons, who sacked Mark Neeld as coach midway through 2013, also churned through a chief executive and a chairman, and won just two matches for the year to finish second-bottom.
Roos, 50, also had a stellar playing career, featuring in 356 matches for Fitzroy and the Swans.
“We’re absolutely delighted Paul has agreed to this role for at least the next two years,” Demons chairman Glen Bartlett said.
“His appointment is the most significant news for this club for a very long time.”
Roos’ contract is for two years, with a one-year option.
Roos said he had initially not been interested in returning to senior coaching when new Demons chief executive Peter Jackson spoke to him 12 weeks ago.
But his mood changed when Jackson put to him the prospect of being the senior coach, with a firm succession plan in which an upwardly mobile assistant would eventually take over.
“One of the turning points was when Peter came to me and asked ‘would you be interested in heading the organisation, then handing it over to someone else?'” Roos said.
“That really sparked the interest. I’m extremely, extremely excited about being introduced as the Melbourne coach.
“I’m really looking forward to setting a direction for the players and the football club, and setting some really high standards.”
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
The AFL has confirmed the right decision was made after a ball ricocheted off a boundary umpire's leg during the third quarter of Melbourne's…
Daniel Turner kicked three goals in his first game for 2024, just his fourth game for the club in his career. Even though he's…
A touching moment for the Demons star with Jacob Hopper.
There's an old saying that you should never argue with an idiot, because they'll drag you down to their level and then beat you…
The ball hit the boundary umpire's leg and rebounded back into play, leading to debate over whether a throw-in should have been called for.
