Melbourne Midfielder Angus Brayshaw has highlighted the Dees’ off field signing of Mark Williams as the reason behind their strong surge of form this year.
Williams, who signed as Head of Development for Melbourne at the end of 2020, coached Port Adelaide to a premiership in 2004 and has also worked with Greater Western Sydney and Richmond.
Melbourne is new premiership favourites after defeating the Dogs by 28 points on Friday night, and Brayshaw believes Williams has been the key to the Demons' hot start to 2021.
“The moment he walked into the club he’s been super consistent in driving a ridiculously high standard, there’s no way anyone will ever meet his standards,” Brayshaw told SEN's Crunch Time.
“But constant and unrelenting pursuit of kicking perfection has probably changed our attitude as a group and our confidence has grown off the back of the work he’s been doing with us.
“The impact he has had on us can’t be understated.”
Melbourne has won 10 of their first 11 games to start the season, their only defeat coming by just one point at the hands of the Adelaide Crows.
It marks a vast improvement from this time last season, where the Demons had won just five of their first 11 matches to eventually miss the top eight.
Despite his demands for perfection, Williams is known in AFL circles for his sometime sporadic and indifferent comments from the boundary to players on the field, a notion Brayshaw confirmed.
“He told my once no one cares how you defend if you get 40 touches and kick a few snags,” Brayshaw said.
Melbourne will play Brisbane next week, with a win meaning they will have defeated all of the current top four, as well as the reigning premiers in Richmond.