KEVIN Sheehan says new Melbourne coach Paul Roos’ innovation and ability to lead in a team environment are two of his greatest attributes as a person and coach.

Sheehan, the AFL’s national and international talent manager, worked closely with Roos in the 1980s and 1990s, when they were involved with Victoria in State of Origin football. 

“He’s a fantastic guy to work [with] in a team environment,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“Way back in State of Origin, he was one of the superstars. You can name, on the one hand, the guys who dominated the pre-national competition through the ‘80s and those big games, which really set up the national competition.

“Roosy was a superstar in that he was a wonderful player, in a period in his career when he was playing for Fitzroy. He probably wasn’t recognised by many as a great player until he performed on this stage. He’s not only gone on to become a great player with the Swans, but a fantastic coach and leader and always the innovator.”

Sheehan said Roos’ ability to become a premiership coach with the Sydney Swans in 2005 didn’t surprise him either, as he was “prepared to look outside the square.”

“He’s looked to the USA and he’s encouraged some of the boys we’ve got at the [NAB AFL Draft] Combine to have a go at this game,” he said.

“We worked with him in LA (Los Angeles) this year in April, as we assembled 17 USA college graduates into a three day camp, which Paul was a major part of, in developing the knowledge of these players about the AFL games.

“He worked in that environment and we brought those boys to Sydney when he was there, and they trained with his academy. Patrick Mitchell was signed by the Sydney Swans as a result of that.

“The other two boys who were with Paul in Sydney are now down [at the Combine] trying out, so I love the way he thinks outside the square and we certainly love his incisive comments on ‘On the Couch’. So [Melbourne has] got a great leader, a great football brain and a guy who I’m sure will contribute enormously to [the Melbourne] Football club in the next few years.”