Paul Roos has declared Melbourne could win the premiership as soon as next season as the club continues the hunt for its next senior coach.
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is considered the early front-runner for the role after experienced potential candidates such as John Longmire, Adam Simpson and James Hird officially pulled out of the running.
While Melbourne will finish this season on the bottom half of the ladder, Roos compared the Demons’ current status to that of Collingwood before Craig McRae took over at the end of 2021.
McRae’s first season as coach saw Collingwood rise from 17th to fourth before he guided the Pies to a premiership in his second season.
“I think Melbourne is a different kettle of fish,” he told the ABC AFL Daily podcast.
“I think they’re way better than people are giving them credit for. If you get the right off-season moves, I’ll go on the record, they could win a flag next year. Not the year after, they could win a flag next year.
Roos believes Melbourne’s next coach could spark a quick turnaround like Craig McRae did for Collingwood. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Dylan Burns)
“They’ve got 14-16 premiership players on their list right now. They won a premiership in 2021, they’re not super old, so I think this is a different one.”
Buckley told SEN on Monday that he was “well and truly on the fence” about throwing his hat in the ring for the Demons job.
He endured a mini-rebuild after first taking over at Collingwood before guiding his side to the 2018 grand final.
“If I’m someone like a Nathan Buckley, I’m not taking this job to resurrect this team. I’m taking this job to win a premiership in the next two to three years,” Roos said.
“That’s the mandate, for me.”
