Underperforming Melbourne are convinced their Super Rugby Pacific fortunes are on the up by re-signing all of their coaches, including Kevin Foote.
Ahead of their crucial clash with the Crusaders at AAMI Park on Friday night, the Rebels announced head mentor Foote and his assistants Tim Sampson and Geoff Parling were locked in until the end of the 2025 season.
Former head coach Sampson knocked back other offers to remain in Melbourne as attack coach while ex-Rebels player Parling continues to head the forwards.
Melbourne have never made the playoffs in 11 seasons but Foote said the players, as well as the board, had bought into their future.
In an inconsistent season they have beaten both the Reds and NSW Waratahs and earned praise for their fast and fearless brand.
"They (the board) said they wanted to extend myself and the senior coaches which is really awesome, so more continuity for the club, but just the faith that they've shown in us is pretty special for what we're trying to achieve here," said Foote, who took over from Dave Wessels at the back end of the 2021 season.
"In the past we've had a buy mentality and now we have the bull mentality, and even until 2027 we've got an idea about who the players are and where the club's headed.
"To back the people without getting the wins initially shows that they believe in the long-term thinking and that they have the right people."
Foote conceded he was "grateful" for the new deal after a 54-17 loss to the Blues in their last outing.
"I feel very grateful to be having this announcement on the back of the last result, that was obviously a hard one for us," said the former South African sevens representative.
"Winning is very important for us and it's going to be important going forward."
Currently 10th, the Rebels take on the defending champion Crusaders needing a win to break back into the finals-bound top eight.
Six of their star players have been away at the Wallabies camp disrupting preparation, but Foote felt there were benefits to take from their involvement in the Test squad.
"It's a challenge that they only came in for captain's run today but they're going to be excited," Foote said.
"Eddie (Wallabies coach Eddie Jones) is building a lot of belief in how the Wallabies are going to go and to have those guys in (the squad) is pretty awesome."
The Crusaders sit fourth on the ladder, with their Test five-eighth Richie Mo'unga set to play his 100th Super match.
"The Crusaders' forward pack is really strong and Mo'unga lives off their forwards going well," Foote said.
"They haven't found their best rugby either this year ... but if we don't give ourselves a chance we won't have a chance.
"We believe that if we play our rugby and get our defensive system really firing than we have a good shot."
