A forthright Roos claims smooth adoption from Swan to Pies discipline principles, as well as Thomas in his contract negotiations, can influence the famous club’s prospects of winning a first flag under coach Nathan Buckley.
Roos reflected that a full season of uncertainty last year with the prolonged contract talks for star power forward Travis Cloke destabilised the Pies premiership campaign.
Thomas, 25, fanned the blast furnace heat raging around his future this week on Melbourne television when the star midfielder reiterated he would delay any contract discussions until well into the new season.
Thomas is recovering from ankle surgery and destined to miss opening rounds of the new premiership home-and-away series with a return likely somewhere into April.
Roos fears the impact of delayed contract talks for Thomas and Swan’s potential disruptions could have a similar debilitating effects as Cloke's drawn out negotiations last season.
The PIes umtimately went down in a preliminary final to eventual premiers Sydney and Cloke signed a lucrative new deal a week later to stay at Collingwood.
Swan was fined by Pies officials for an unauthorised interview and appearance on Channel Nine’s Footy Show early this month after a summer of accusations the veteran and 2011 Brownlow medallist had engaged in indiscretions away from the club.
The 2005 Swans premiership coach pointed the finger firmly at Swan and Thomas.
“We saw the impact Cloke had on Collingwood last year,” Roos said on Fox Sports popular On the Couch program.
“I think Collingwood is extremely well placed to win a premiership this year.
“But if you’ve got players that don’t want to conform to your team ethos and I would suggest that there would be some players within the Collingwood football club, who would be getting sick of Dane Swan.”
Roos elaborated that Thomas with his contract talks and Swan with his personal issues, were separate types of possible unwanted disruption in the Pies flag prospects.
“Thomas for different reasons and Swanny for going on the Footy Show and obviously some things that have been happening with him,” said Roos.
“They know they are playing for a big football club. They know they are playing for a big football team.
“Everything they do and say is going to be analysed.
“They saw last year with Cloke and I was concerned Thomas with the comments he made.
“It didn’t look good in print.
“You’re playing for the biggest football team in Australia and you know even if they are tongue in cheek, you know someone is going to take them and put them in some form of context.
“It’s unnecessary.”