Terlich thrilled to reunite with Roos
This article originally appeared on melbournefc.com.au.
The 24-year-old, who grew up on a farm between the small Riverina towns of Osborne and Henty in southern NSW, was drafted by the Swans at No.61 in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft 2007, spending the 2008 season with the Swans before his AFL career came to a halt.
After some fine performances with Norwood in the SANFL – including winning the Jack Oatey Medal for his best-on-ground display in the Redlegs’ 2012 premiership – his AFL career was revived when the Demons claimed him at pick No.68 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.
Terlich spent his first season under former Melbourne coaches Mark Neeld and Neil Craig, finishing third in the club’s best and fairest, before the club landed the prized signature of Roos.
Although Terlich could’ve been forgiven for being a little anxious upon the reunion with Roos – given he was in and out of the AFL within 12 months – the recently turned 24-year-old said he was thrilled to be working under him again.
“I had a really good chat with him the other day and he said I’d changed a fair bit since a 17 or 18-year-old up in Sydney. I’ve got a lot fitter and he said there were traits that were of AFL standard and there were other things that I needed to work on and improve,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“He’s been really good for me, as have all of the coaches. He’s really hands on and his knowledge of the game is the best I’ve ever seen and I think it’s going to hold us in good stead, heading into the season.”
“We had a chat the first day he was in there and he said ‘it’s going to be a clean slate’. He’s treated me exactly the same as any other bloke and that’s all I can ask for, so that’s what he’s done. There are no complaints from my end and I don’t think there are any complaints from his end either.”
In fact, Terlich has been reacquainted with several coaches. He played with new midfield coach Ben Mathews in his one season at the Swans, while George Stone, Brett Allison and Daniel McPherson were also part of the coaching group, when Terlich was in the harbour city.
“Ben played the majority of the year in the reserves and was more of a mentor, so I played a bit with him,” Terlich said.
“He’s been really good, but I haven’t had a lot to do with him, because I’m not in the midfield group. From all reports, the boys are really happy with him and George Stone.
“The boys are very happy with the coaches who have come in, so it’s good to have a few familiar faces. They’ve tried to change the feel around the club and I think they have done that. They’re much more hands on and they’re a cut above from what I’ve ever been involved with.”
Terlich, who was noted for his attacking flair out of the backline in 2013, said he was set to play that role again under Roos in 2014, only this time, with a tighter defensive game.
“The role will be more defensively orientated. A lot of the game plan that Roosy builds is around defence first and then attack from there,” he said.
“Last year, I was attacking, because that’s what I was drafted for in the first place, but next year, I’ve got to play that happy balance of knowing when to defend and when to attack.
“I won’t lose my attacking flair, even though I’ve got to shut down my opponents a bit more. But I can’t see my role changing a lot.”
Terlich added the one key area Roos had been pleased with since his days at the Swans was his fitness base.
“When I was at Sydney, he said I was probably the worst there and he didn’t really expect anything from me, fitness wise. I was pretty bad when I was up there,” he said.
“He said he’s been happy with the gains that I’ve made and I’ve just got to find a way to get better again.
“There’s still room for improvement with my fitness, but I think a full pre-season is the biggest thing for me – just to get some kilometres in the legs and to improve the aerobic capacity that I’ve got.”
