DAVID NEITZ RETIRES

[Kiss of Death 747]

Farewell big fella.

I just wish i had a copy of Round 2 2004 on hand.

[demon_king 13]

Just hasn't sunk in that he won't be gracing the G in the red and blue anymore. Can't say enough about the man, gave his all for the club through good times and bad, there will never be another Neita, thanks for the memories.

[Supreme_Demon 3,749]

Thanks for the memories David.

You will be remembered as one of the GREATEST Melbourne Demons players ever!

Over 300 games.

A coleman medalist.

Twice All-Australian.

Club Best & Fairest.

A pure CHAMPION!

[beelzebub 23,313]

I think possibly as a mark of respect the club ought to hang the jumper up til season 2010

[red&blue&true 0]

seeya neita - thanks for the memories big fella, hope your neck heals ok for your post football life.

cheers.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,294]

David,

In almost 40 years as A Demon tragic I reckon I can count on 1 hand how many players I would put in the ``Superstar `` category and you are one of them! Not since Robbie has anyone`s heart beat more true ! So many amazing memories for us all to carry with us, but for me , the hit on McCabe and resultant goal was one of the most inspiring bits of football I have ever witnessed. Rest your weary bones Neita and all the very best to you!

[needafullback 82]

We often say as supporters that when we go to the footy to watch our teams play we want to see them have a crack. We exhort the players to tackle, chase, and to put their bodies on the line to win the ball. To never give up. Neita did all those things, every week. If we had 22 Neitas running around we wouldn't have anything to complain about on a forum like this.

I'll never forget Queen's Birthday a few years ago when the Magpies were on the charge - they'd swallowed up our lead and were building a lead of their own. All the momentum was with them and our skipper could see that from full-forward. He moved himself to centre-half forward for a bounce and charged in off the square and put Scott Burns onto the turf. He made a statement that said we wouldn't lie down. It was clear and emphatic and it's hard to recall the like of it from a Melbourne player of the recent era.

We won.

[Waltham33 475]

Well done Netia - all time club games record holder, goals record holder, I could go on. It has been an honour watching you play - thanks for everything! Watching you run out for the 300th will be something I won't forget.

[jacey 333]

Neitz ur a bloody Champion.

Now go off and start breeding.

[Pates 9,660]

A sad way to end one of the greatest careers at the MFC. It will be very tough for us to go on without him, he's been the heart and soul for the club since the likes of Todd Viney retired. I really wanted him to have a send off match, but he has taken the smart move and put his health in front of anything else.

You've given me so many great memories, I hope you will stick around the club for a while, and i wish you all the best in your post-football life.

[Deano74 156]

What a champ, going to be missed

[The Emblem 1]

What a great career

[titan_uranus 24,974]

Neitz ur a bloody Champion.

Now go off and start breeding.

Hahaha, good idea

[occo 2]

Lets hope so RD. The absolute least the man deserves.

Although i dont like neita particually i am really sad to see him never win a premiership and thank him for his services. all the best for the future neita

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Neitz. My favourite player from childhood. In my time I've not known a player to be our equal in the red and blue, and probably won't for a long time to come.

You will be missed, but have been lifted to immortal status at this club. One of our greatest ever. In more ways than I care to count (and repeat)

You deserve every happiness you can find in your retirement.

[Real Demon 232]

It's bloody sad isn't it!

Absolute champion......an out and out champion make no mistake about it!

Loved watching him play........nothing better than to see him in full flight.......on his day, he was unstoppable!

And when he'd boot as goal, and run back to rev up his teammates holding the one finger in the air, that was gold!

Will miss you Neita, you've been a star!!!!!!!!

Some good pics from his career here.....

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/gallery/0...5006020,00.html

[Hards 2]

Very sad. Always my favourite Dees player. Picked him early, I think I still have the jumper that has 38 on it for him.

I'll miss making the best FB in the game Mal Michael look second rate at the Gabba in 2002.

I'll miss Luke McCabe's collarbone (though probably not as much as McCabe does)

I'll miss the battles with Carey

I'll miss silencing the critics with big bags of goals

I'll miss the 55m goal when the team needed it

I'll miss the Captain.

For the vast number on here who barely remember anyone else wearing number 9 footy will be a different experience without him.

I'll miss our only leader

[brey9186 102]

congrats to the big man on a fine career!!

[1.21 GigaWatts 1]

A truly sad day for the MFC. Neita, you are a champion. Explosive talent coupled with humility is becoming a rare commodity in modern AFL. It's not only the Dees (who you represented so honestly and bravely) but the AFL that has lost something today. Thanks for the memories.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

To put in perspective just how long Neitz has been at the club, when he started in 1993 I was just starting Primary School. I'm now in my second year of university (would be my third if I didn't take a year off).

It's not going to be the same without him.

[Sir Why You Little 36,971]

Well i am glad he is not playing a send off game if his neck is bad. Would never want to see the skipper in a wheelchair if the worst happened.

Good stuff Nieta you were a champ in every way

I shall always respect the speech you made on the ground after loosing the 2000 GF, must have been so hard but you kept your style. Something James Hird didn't the year after (Spoilt Brat)

Good Health David-Hope you stay with the club and help us all win that Flag

[Swampfox 190]

Team of the Century (Awarded in 2000)

B: John Beckwith Robert Johnson Donald Cordner.

HB: Noel McMahen Gary Hardeman Don Williams

C: Brian Dixon Allan La Fontaine Robert Flower

HF: Hassa Mann Ivor Warne-Smith Garry Lyon

F: Jack Mueller Norm Smith Percy Beames

R: Denis Cordner Ron Barassi Stuart Spencer

Int: Frank Adams Albert Chadwick Wally Lock Laurie Mithen Jim Stynes Todd Viney

Emerg: Stan Alves Bob Johnson Jnr Ian Ridley Greg Wells

Coach - Norm Smith

Captain - Ron Barassi

Vice-Captain - Robert Flower

Anyone care to take a stab at where Neita would be selected if the team was picked now?

Great career Neita, thanks for the memories

Centre Half Back

The tough question is who misses out

[Madness 44]

Are they going to put the full press conference on the official site or what?

[rpfc 28,262]

New century fellas and Neita can pick his place.

I loved the quiet leadership, but what I will always say to anyone who questions his place in history is the fact that this bloke was AA at Centre Half Back and 8 years later AA at Full Forward.

The enormity of that achievement does not hit you at first until you go to the footy or watch it on TV and say "could Croad do that, or Brown, or Fevola?"

No, they couldn't.

He may not have a flag, but he is an immense figure at the Melbourne Football Club - Est.1858, 12 Premierships - and that is something to behold.

[the fork 357]

None of what I am about to say has anything to do with the legacy of this great man. A true champion player who I hope will continue to have an influence around the club, but...

I am wondering if even at this early stage there is any room for discussion over his decision to take on the captaincy this year.

He knew prior to making this decision of the potential seriousness of his injury and therefore should have been able to foresee it's possible ramifications.

I think ultimately it was a poor decision and for such a giving bloke a rather self-centred one.

Some of the lack of on-field leadership has come from our captain. This has steamed from poor form, seemingly attributed to the his injury concerns. This lack of leadership has had a huge influence on our confidence, which I believe is currently our biggest problem.

I know this sounds tough, but this is what comes with being the captain of a club. It's been a horror 150th season and I just think the above needs to be acknowledged as a contributing factor in it.

Again this is something that should not taint a wonderful career, but something we should frame in the context of season 2008.