THE past 12 months have been an incredible ride for Daniel Cross.

Recently a Dad for the second time, with the birth of daughter Charli to join older brother Tyler, Cross’ world was somewhat different this time a year ago.

Moved on from the Bulldogs after an outstanding 210-game career and a best and fairest to his name, Cross’ future wasn’t assured in the AFL until he was snapped up by Melbourne as a delisted free agent.

And after finishing fifth in the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy this year – despite missing five matches after breaking his leg – Cross said he has no regrets whatsoever about joining Melbourne.

“This time last year, I didn’t know if I’d still be playing senior football – it was the big question,” he told Dee TV.

“To be sitting here 12 months on, I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to achieve – not just on the field, but off the field.

“Having been at the Bulldogs for such a long time … to move to a new club who I had played against every year once or twice and was enemies against – I was really nervous to be honest at the start.

Cross said he was “devastated” when the Bulldogs told him he was no longer required at the club, but he added that had “loved” his first season with Melbourne.

“I bled red, white and blue for such a long time … I’m one of those guys that lives and breathes football 24/7 and it’s my life. My family knows that and they’ve been great letting me do it the way that I’ve wanted to do it,” he said.

“In that sense, it was extremely hard to take, but on the other hand, you do understand that the club is bigger than the individual. But because I love that place so much, there was a part of me that was happy to think that they’re making the right decision for the footy club.

“As hard as that was for me, I did accept it and I had to move on pretty quickly. There was probably a five or six week period where I didn’t know if I was going to be picked up – or where I was going to play.

“I was training my backside off and it could’ve been for nothing in the end, but I wanted to be ready to go – if I got the nod somewhere.

“You make the best of your opportunities in sport – and life in general – and that’s all I’ve tried to do.”

Cross said when he first came to Melbourne he simply wanted to earn the respect of the players and coaches.

“I didn’t want to try to be some sort of hero – I just wanted to fit in with the guys and eventually work my way into being a strong leader around the place,” he said.

“In that sense, I’m definitely proud of what’s transpired this year.

“On the field, I was disappointed when I broke my leg after the half-way point of the year – that slowed my momentum a little bit. But as a team, I think we made some really strong inroads.”

Cross said he never needed motivation to train or play, but he acknowledged a change of environment had helped him considerably.

“That’s when you do find improvement and it definitely has [helped] build new relationships – I didn’t know any of the guys before I came here,” he said.

“It was challenging and out of the comfort zone and when you’re on the edge all of the time, you want to do things really well.

“Up until I broke my leg, I hadn’t missed a session and I hadn’t missed a game … up until then, I was really happy with how things had panned out, so you could say it was a blessing in disguise [to move to Melbourne].

“When I did leave the Bulldogs, the option they gave me was that I could retire, but I wasn’t going to accept that. I still felt I had a lot of myself to give as a player and as a person to a footy club and that was the decision that I made and it worked out well.”

Although Cross didn’t taste much success in his first season with the Demons, he said the wins were among “the most memorable times I’ve had”.

“They were so much fun and it was really good to be part of that,” he said.

“I want to help the guys get that feeling more and more next year.”