Paul Roos flags giving Demons players new on-field positions
MELBOURNE could field a new-look team this Sunday as coach Paul Roos tries to rebuild the psyche of the strugglers.
The Roos regime hit an early pothole when West Coast demolished Melbourne by 93 points on Sunday at the MCG.
After a summer of hope and promise, it was more pain for Demons supporters, who have been through plenty of disasters in the past few seasons.
Roos said he realised the day after the Eagles loss that he must try to make a break with the past before Sunday's away match against Greater Western Sydney.
"We can't do the same thing again," he told Fox Footy's On The Couch.
"The players have to feel it's new.
"Forget the past. I'm sick of talking about the past.
"They have to run out on Sunday against the Giants feeling like this is a new team."
Roos has not decided yet what he will do, but has raised the prospect of throwing the side around and giving players new on-field positions.
"There's a bit of same old, same old," he said.
"That's probably my biggest task this week, to put a team on the field that's completely different.
"This could be a different team and players in completely different positions when we run out on Sunday."
Roos added he was also to blame for Sunday's poor performance.
"My own performance was deplorable," he said.
"You lose by 93 points - I'm the person directing that group, so you can't be pleased with your own performance."
One of Melbourne's big problems is that key forwards Chris Dawes, Mitch Clark and Jesse Hogan are injured, meaning they have a lack of structure in attack.
Roos said that was taking away probably 10-15 per cent of their game plan.
He also denied blasting the players immediately after Sunday's loss, saying he was calm in the rooms.
Roos revealed the Melbourne coaching staff let the players run Monday's post-game analysis.
The new Demons coach said he was not rattled by Sunday's disaster and said improvement would take a lot longer than two matches.
Timings, contenders, honours: Full W Awards preview
What time does the Best and Fairest count start? Who are the leading contenders? Who's eligible for the Rising Star award? AFL.com.au has you covered with our complete W Awards preview
AFLW Pocket Profile: Danielle Ponter
She's one of the most courageous players in the competition, but there's one teammate Danielle Ponter hates facing at training
AFLW Pocket Profile: Courtney Hodder
From her celebrity doppelganger to where her middle name comes from, get to know more about Brisbane star Courtney Hodder
AFLW Pocket Profile: Amelie Borg
Power defender Amelie Borg wanted to be a famous singer and her coffee order changes depending on the weather