JACK Watts says the “whole culture of the club has changed” since coach Paul Roos arrived in September 2013.

Speaking on Triple M on Monday, Watts said the club had evolved under Roos’ tutelage and it was now a great place to play football.  

“We’re now a supporting and encouraging environment and we’re encouraged to take the game on and we’re encouraged to use a bit of flair,” he said.

“We’re trying to get that no fear football and for me it’s a lot about the education of how we’re playing the game.

“If you look at the stats from this year in particular, we’ve improved so much in inside 50s, clearances and contested ball – it makes the game a lot easier. Once you start getting a taste for that – it’s pretty infectious and you just want to keep playing well and doing the right thing.

“It’s hard to put it down to one thing, but I’d say the people around the club are pretty special.”

Watts said his career “had certainly been a journey”, but one he wouldn’t have changed since he was the No.1 draft pick in 2008.

“Early on, it wasn’t handled the way it probably should’ve been and I’ve been dealing with that ever since,” he said.

“Once you get off on the wrong foot, it’s pretty hard to change perceptions, but at the same time, I wouldn’t change it at all and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s made me a pretty strong and resilient person to get through all of that.

“Hopefully at the end of my career, I’ll really enjoy sitting back – hopefully after we’ve had a successful couple of years to come – and I’ll look back and have a bit of a chuckle at all of that stuff.”

Watts said he had tried not to sweat the small stuff this year and take it all in his stride.

“This year has been the one year where I’ve tried to relax and not worry about AFL footy really,” he said.

“It’s pretty easy to get completely consumed by it all and I know, certainly earlier in my career, the questions were being asked and there were doubts. It’s pretty hard to just go out and play free-flowing, confident footy.

“With Roosy coming on board with his wife Tami, who is very much into meditation, I think that’s really helped me with relaxing and being able to go out and play your own game and not worry about too much or get nervous.”

Watts said his family and friends had got him through the tough times.

“I’m a Melbourne boy and I’ve got the best group of mates anyone could ask for –that’s what is special in my life,” he said.

“I’d come home after a 150-point drubbing and they’d be the same, [even] if I’d come home and kicked four and we’d won by five goals.

“It’s great to have those people in your life, but my poor old lady battles with it a bit.”