Paul Roos in Conversation with Karen Lyon

By any standards, Paul Roos is a towering figure in the AFL. He played 356 games for Fitzroy and Sydney in the 1980s and 1990s and was named an All-Australian player seven times. In his coaching career, he led the Sydney Swans to their 2005 premiership, breaking a 72-year drought. More recently, he’s been credited with turning the Melbourne Demons from AFL punchline to serious finals contenders.

As a player, Roos was known for his dignity and decency on the field. In 17 seasons he was reported only once (for bad language) and found not guilty. As a coach he’s profoundly altered the fortunes of two clubs, and is associated with a new style of AFL leadership that incorporates a ‘no dickheads policy’ and encourages mindfulness and meditation among players.

In his new book, Here It Is, Roos reflects on more than 30 years in football, recounting tales from the coaching box and the club room. In conversation with Karen Lyon, he talks leadership, club culture and life after footy.

Karen Lyon and Paul Roos