The way this is going we will have more off field personnel than players.

Hope we don't forget that these guys don't actually play!

Agree- with Craig to be formally annonced at the club later today- I truly hope we treat Trade week with same vigour.

AFL.com.au reporting it too.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/124371/default.aspx

This Kim Hackdorn has absolutely NFI. How many times has he got things wrong now? Talk about amateur hour!

Agree- with Craig to be formally annonced at the club later today- I truly hope we treat Trade week with same vigour.

Ha - Brilliant

Cop That Carlton

We are now winning the 50/50's - Huge change is in the wind

Lets Go Demons

Good coup by the Dees... starting to build a solid coaching staff one to rival the best in the league, first time in a long time I can remember that being case.

Build it, and they will come...

AFL.com.au reporting it too.

http://www.afl.com.a...71/default.aspx

This Kim Hackdorn has absolutely NFI. How many times has he got things wrong now? Talk about amateur hour!

Maybe gOLLy could a start a thread on Kim.....

Press release up on Melbourne site.

This is fantastic news for the club.

Boy oh boy Voldermort will be choking on the sydney rock oysters.

Great work MFC!

Super impressed by the way they have gone about restructuring the FD...........time will tell whether it will bring success, but some seriously well credentialled people are joining the club, and that's a real positive!

This is good news and I am happy as I wanted either a big name as coach, or a highly credentialed tag team, and Neeld Craig it is!

So will Craig's role entail? How much input does he have?

This is good news and I am happy as I wanted either a big name as coach, or a highly credentialed tag team, and Neeld Craig it is! So will Craig's role entail? How much input does he have?

All is answered on the MFC website, goes through what Craig will be associating himself with at the club.

This is good news and I am happy as I wanted either a big name as coach, or a highly credentialed tag team, and Neeld Craig it is!

So will Craig's role entail? How much input does he have?

You have got me Sloonie.

I have read the MFC announcement 4 times.

Now I might be a little dense this afternoon.

But I am struggling with the Structure.

Not sure how it all fits together.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Have a gut feeling we will have more chiefs than indians in 2012.

How much are all these guys costing?

We must have tripled the FD spend from 2011.

PS sloonie what happened to your avatar I have read your postings now?

Very exciting time for the club.

Stoked by this appointment. The level of management this footy club is going to be under will leave absolutley no room for passengers.

2012 will be a defining season for the MFC. I cannot wait.

Fantastic appointment ! Now the work begins ! Bring it on !!!

You have got me Sloonie.

I have read the MFC announcement 4 times.

Now I might be a little dense this afternoon.

But I am struggling with the Structure.

Not sure how it all fits together.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Have a gut feeling we will have more chiefs than indians in 2012.

How much are all these guys costing?

We must have tripled the FD spend from 2011.

PS sloonie what happened to your avatar I have read your postings now?

I think you're asking for too much detail from a quick press release old dee..

Craig would not have bothered with this position had he not been able to see where he can influence and add substantial value to the Clubs efforts. It's not in his make-up.

Very exciting time for the club.

Stoked by this appointment. The level of management this footy club is going to be under will leave absolutley no room for passengers.

2012 will be a defining season for the MFC. I cannot wait.

Keep your excitement under control!

What if the" defining season" says we have actually over rated our players in the past and we are a bottom six side?

No slashing of wrists now.

Stay calm and wait and see how 2012 plays out.

Membership renewed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Mfc website: -

“I love the history of the Melbourne Football Club. When I walk through the MCG and look at the honor boards I see that the Melbourne Football Club started this game, wrote the rules and have produced some all time great coaches.

“In Mark Neeld I see a coach that has a clear vision and I wanted to be part of this coaching group that will work really hard to give the members and supporters what they have been craving for."

- Neil Craig

You have got me Sloonie.

I have read the MFC announcement 4 times.

Now I might be a little dense this afternoon.

But I am struggling with the Structure.

Not sure how it all fits together.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Have a gut feeling we will have more chiefs than indians in 2012.

How much are all these guys costing?

We must have tripled the FD spend from 2011.

PS sloonie what happened to your avatar I have read your postings now?

I don't know- I wanted Craig as an assistant to Neeld because I respect his background, but truth be told, I don't actually know how that would work- What will Craig actually be doing apart from being an experienced "advisor" of sorts?

And yes, I too got the feeling of so many chefs in the kitchen now.. I'm hoping Neeld is an excellent manager of people because there are a lot of assistants under him. Don't get me wrong I still see all of this as positive it's just that I don't know that much about coaching and all the different levels needed.

PS I decided to go substance over style. Borlee warms the heart.

If it's true that we have beaten several other clubs and the AFL for his services it is an enormous pr win to us. It shows we are moving ahead and will leave no stone unturned in order to improve. The players must be excited with the new people coming in many of whom are leaders in their field.

Quite right Redleg but I'm a little tired of winning the pr battles in spring and summer and losing the impoortant ones in autumn and winter.

Still, I hope that we can now win in the trades and draft periods to allow us to be well prepared for the big stuff later.

I haven't been following this Neil Craig thing all that closely but I knew we were in with a chance when, as others have pointed out above, sportsnews first started crowing that the Blues had him.

And finally, on a more sobre note, I really hope that all of this news brings some succour to Jimmy and helps him through his illness. He placed his reliance on Garry Lyon and his friend is doing him proud.

Keep your excitement under control!

What if the" defining season" says we have actually over rated our players in the past and we are a bottom six side?

No slashing of wrists now.

Stay calm and wait and see how 2012 plays out.

I think we can get a bit excited by this - we are finally heading forward with a purpose and plan - not unreasonable to have high expectations - I'm excited ( & signed up !) B)

What's that saying, too many cooks spoil the broth? I'm happy that we've got Craig, but he's overseeing Neeld, Misson and Viney, in their roles in coaching, fitness and development. In a way I think it would have been better if we just made Neeld the boss and trusted him to delegate when applicable.

I don't know- I wanted Craig as an assistant to Neeld because I respect his background, but truth be told, I don't actually know how that would work- What will Craig actually be doing apart from being an experienced "advisor" of sorts?

And yes, I too got the feeling of so many chefs in the kitchen now.. I'm hoping Neeld is an excellent manager of people because there are a lot of assistants under him. Don't get me wrong I still see all of this as positive it's just that I don't know that much about coaching and all the different levels needed.

PS I decided to go substance over style. Borlee warms the heart.

Not sure if mine responds the same way!

And finally, on a more sobre note, I really hope that all of this news brings some succour to Jimmy and helps him through his illness. He placed his reliance on Garry Lyon and his friend is doing him proud.

Agree. See my new thread on the topic.

I think we can get a bit excited by this - we are finally heading forward with a purpose and plan - not unreasonable to have high expectations - I'm excited ( & signed up !) B)

I was already signed up.

Just keep in mind it is September 29th 2011.

He does not play at FF or anywhere for that manner!

As part of this, a key responsibility for the Director of Sport Performance will be supporting, developing and mentoring the coaching team. The role will strongly focus on the establishment of an elite performance culture, in particular strategy and innovation.

The reporting structure shall not, in any way, dilute the status, scope or significance of the role of Senior Coach, but allow the senior coach and his coaching team to focus on achieving their full potential both personally and in context of team performance.

So I gleamed from the MFC website that this is what he will be doing. So essentially he be a mentor to the coaching team, allowing Neeld to focus more on what he has to do. A liaison to the coach of sorts.

Well as long as everyone knows their role hopefully it all runs smoothly. Excited about this- all of a sudden we are getting big names and making statements. We're in this for keeps! Go Dees!

Keep your excitement under control!

What if the" defining season" says we have actually over rated our players in the past and we are a bottom six side?

No slashing of wrists now.

Stay calm and wait and see how 2012 plays out.

Exactly.

The 2012 season will be defined, in part, by who is up for it and who isn't. I'm forecasting quite a few departures at the end of next season.