NEW Demon and former Bulldog Daniel Cross believes he has at least two, maybe three years left in the game.

The 30-year-old said he was in tip-top shape ahead of Melbourne’s 2014 pre-season campaign and was optimistic he could add plenty of games to his 210.

“I’m training pretty hard at the moment in the off-season and I’m feeling as good as I ever have, so I don’t think I’ll put a number on it, but I certainly don’t think at this stage that this will be my last year,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“I think I’ve got another two left in me, maybe even three [years].

“I know Roosy thinks I’ve got a good chance with the body that I’ve got and I’ve been really lucky with my injury history. As long as that’s going well and the mind is mentally strong and you’re willing to put in the hard yards – that’s the hardest part. At the moment, it’s really good, so hopefully I’ll have a couple more.”

Cross, who joined Melbourne as a delisted free agent, said it had been an anxious couple of months, after he knew his time was up at the Bulldogs towards the end of the 2013 season.

“Most guys who have gone through the same thing as me will tell you that it’s an extremely stressful time,” he said.

“Guys’ names are thrown around and bandied around. Where are they going to end up? You’re sitting there not knowing what’s going to happen. You check up on any Twitter feed or website [to see] if your name comes up and [there is] interest from other clubs.

“I was really keen to continue my career on at the highest level. I’m so glad and rapt that Melbourne’s allowed me to do that. The last couple of months have been something new to me and I hadn’t been through that situation before and I don’t recommend it, that’s for sure.”

But the 2008 Western Bulldogs best and fairest winner said he was eager to don the red and blue and play a key part in the Paul Roos era. 

“I’m really looking forward to it. I made the decision straight away, when I was told I wasn’t going to be playing at the Bulldogs. That’s what I wanted to do – my mind was made up,” he said.

“I was feeling really good. I felt that I was still up to the level and I backed myself in and I put myself out there. I’m so rapt to get the opportunity, but after spending such a long time at the one club, it’ll take a little time to adjust.

“With the new coaching staff that’s come in, all of the players are going to be new to Roosy’s coaching style and his strategies and his philosophies, so I won’t be the only one to be trying to learn a new way here. We’re all starting out together, which is good in my mind and it puts my mind at ease a bit.”

Although Cross said he was “really keen to have an impact on the field”, he was eager to help develop the younger Demons.

“I want to come into the side and help the Melbourne footy club move up the ladder and that’s my No.1 priority,” he said.

“Certainly during training and games, I want to help the young midfield that we’ve got here at Melbourne to come through and nurture them. A lot of the stuff that I was doing at the Bulldogs, I love working with young kids who want to improve and I’m really keen to do well straight away. Not just the young guys, but the whole team as well, if I can help out in any capacity, I’m willing to do that.

“On field, through the midfield [I see myself playing], but I’ll back myself to go half-back or half-forward. It depends on what the coaches want me to do, week to week.”