Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson and president Glen Bartlett flank new coach Paul Roos Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: HeraldSun
MELBOURNE coach Paul Roos says he is "absolutely devastated" at the animosity being directed his way from former club Sydney.
The Sydney premiership coach returned fire last night, saying he doesn't understand the level of anger coming out of the Swans after he took the Demons job.
Swans chairman Richard Colless attacked Roos on the weekend, accusing him of attempting to lure Sydney's best academy player Lloyd Perris to the Demons.
"Paul's actions massively devalue his standing at the club," Colless told the Daily Telegraph.
"He led the club to it's first premiership in 72 years. He helped establish the Bloods culture, he is on a pedestal at the Swans and I'm unbelievably disappointed in his actions.
"I consider taking players from the academy he has helped build is an absolute breach of protocol and a gentleman's agreement.
Roos told Fox Footy's On The Couch program that Colless' comments had left him shattered.
"I was devastated, absolutely devastated," he said.
"For the chairman to come out and say that, it's hard for me to read it still."
Roos has demanded an apology from Colless - with whom he appeared on the same program as friends just weeks ago - and denied he was attempting to steal Sydney's best young talent.
"The young boy is very, very keen to play for the Sydney Swans footy club. If he chooses not to and goes in the draft, he's eligible to be picked up by any club in the competition," Roos said.
"I don't understand where the animosity is coming from."
"They've moved on and I've got to move on. Clearly there's an enormous amount of anger coming out of the Sydney Swans towards me. I don't understand why it happens. Maybe it's a message to me that things don't always pan out the way you want them to.
"I was hoping and always have hoped that I would walk out of that club respecting the club and receiving the same respect in return."
Roos went on to suggest that Sydney had burnt its bridges with him.
"The last two or three days, post-what Richard said, that's galvanised in my mind I'm no longer with the Swans, I'm with Melbourne and I'll do the absolute best I can for the Melbourne footy club.
"From my point of view I had the right to go and do another job. I've got to deal with the fact that I'm now the Melbourne coach."
Roos also confirmed that Swans assistant coach and dual premiership player Stuart Dew had applied for an assistant role at Melbourne, despite still being contracted to Sydney.
"We've had a number of applicants for the senior assistant role, of which Stuey Dew is one of them," Roos said.
"He's under contract at Sydney, he's applied for the job about a week after I got the position and at this stage they won't let him interview for the position. That's their perogative and that's where it sits."
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