VETERAN Daniel Cross says it was important for Melbourne’s development to grind out a win, even though its 24-point victory over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Sunday was hardly one for the archives.

Cross said the Demons were simply “happy to get any win we can” at this stage of their journey.

“It was scrappy and it’s probably been a long time since we can say we’ve had an ugly win, but it’s good. Four points is exactly that and that’s what we’re after and we’ve got plenty to work on still,” he told Dee TV.

“Winning ugly and winning pretty – it doesn’t matter, four points is exactly what we’re after.”

Cross added the education from this win will be invaluable for the emerging Demons.

“We’ll learn from it again and the coach (Paul Roos) has been great at educating us through the week, whether we win or whether we lose. We’re a developing group and we’ll keep working away at our game, so it’s a good feeling,” he said.

“I think the main thing is about education. We’ve got so many young guys coming in, but they’re getting taught the right things early and it’s great for this footy club.

“Us, as the senior players and leadership group, we need to keep driving that message into them. The coaches have been terrific at teaching us the way they want to play.”

Cross said Melbourne’s first half, when it kicked 7.7 to 1.5, set up the win, but he acknowledged its second half was frustrating.  

“We came away with a win – we did enough to win and we definitely set it up in that first half,” he said.

“We definitely let ourselves down after half-time, especially that third quarter. They definitely beat us in the contest and that’s what we are – we’re a contest team.

“We’re hard at the ball and we tackle well – when we’re doing that, we can set up well behind the ball. I thought the whole back group was terrific today (Sunday), but we were patchy even through that first half.

“We managed to get a score on the board and put scoreboard pressure on [in the first half], but we’ve got plenty of work to do and we’re working hard – that’s the most important thing.”

Cross said he was relishing playing his role at the moment and “doing what the coaches are asking me to do”.

“Whether it’s playing across half-back or running with something through the middle of the ground – my role changes from week-to-week,” he said.

“Probably the last two months, I’ve been predominantly more down back and we’re working really well. We’ve got some real chemistry going down there and I feel really comfortable down there.

“We’ve got some experienced guys like ‘H’ (Heritier Lumumba), Dunny (Lynden Dunn), Tommy Mac (Tom McDonald) even though he went forward, Col Garland and Nev Jetta – we’re really starting to gel down there.”

Cross said the backine group had gone to another level under line coach Jade Rawlings.

“We’re really starting to hone that group and move forward and we’re taking change of that group,” he said.

“Jade is doing a terrific job with us, but we’re taking over that group now and coming up with vision and looking at other teams and how we want to perform as a unit – not just as individuals.

“I’m proud to be a part of this team and I’m just excited about helping develop these young players and getting a winning culture at this club.”