does anyone else find it very strange we have appointed Neeld today, meaning he has to walk away from Collingwood immediately? He has been a key member of the coaching staff for 6 months on a premiership campaign, and is going to disappear when they are 2 games from a possible flag? Why didn't we make arrangements with him to start his tenure just after the grand final so he could finish up the season at the Pies? How does Collingwood feel about this?

Because several clubs were after him, we had to get his signature ASAP. Once pen is on paper, remaining at the Pies becomes untenable. It's happened before.

(... and if we've hurt Collingwood's chances of going back to back, why the heck are you complaining?!? )

Who cares how Collingwood feel!

Who cares how Collingwood feel!

This.

a tiny pin-[censored] by mm against the collingwood establishment vis-a-vis his own position.

Schwab's interview with Matt Burgan suggested Neeld put it to the club that if they wanted him then they should hurry up and sign him because other clubs are expressing genuine interest. That was my reading between the lines anyway. And the fact his appointment was leaked out of Collingwood also precipitated the announcement.

FMD, Melbourne supporters always find something to complain about!

Collingwood missing their assistant coach heading into a GF? WHO THE HELL CARES?!

Neeld was going to sign with Adelaide this weekend. What a pity we didn't play nice and let another club snare him.

LOL I don't find it weird, I find it [censored] awesome that have somewhat thrown a spanner in Collingwood's plans!

Is this Demonland? Who cares about Collingwood hahaha ffs some people!

FMD, Melbourne supporters always find something to complain about!

Collingwood missing their assistant coach heading into a GF? WHO THE HELL CARES?!

Neeld was going to sign with Adelaide this weekend. What a pity we didn't play nice and let another club snare him.

FMD, some posters always find something to be defensive about.

Don't think the OP was complaining, just making an observation. It seems it can be hard to have an interesting conversation around here.

On topic, very interesting timing. Saturday press conference between two finals will result in less media than a Tuesday announcement after the season is over. It seems the pressure was on to get to contract signed due to other clubs wanting to sign him up, and once he signed he had to tell Collingwood, who would have immediately walked him. Can't have a senior coach of an opposition team in the coach’s box. I guess once it was out Melbourne decided to take control rather than the Media running with it without them.

Of course he needs to start immediately - we've got list management and trade period looming straight after the GF. We've got the Scully picks and the GWS U17 draft so it's even more intense than ever. [censored] Collingwood and the donkey they rode in on.

Adelaide wanted him just as bad, so we had to strike.

Cool...The Filth will carry on...What Neeld has taught them won't be forgotten in 2 weeks.

Great timing Clubs were after him and I would hate to miss out on a decent coach rather than be forced into signing someone who the board considers second best. Better our club is proactive for a change

I bet St Kilda wish they signed up Ross Lyon (longterm) as soon as they knew he was their man, rather than faffing about until he jumped ship...

Of course he needs to start immediately - we've got list management and trade period looming straight after the GF. We've got the Scully picks and the GWS U17 draft so it's even more intense than ever. [censored] Collingwood and the donkey they rode in on.

You beat me to it. Neeld has a massive amount of work to do before the trade period and the draft. He also has to make an assesment on the current list, he'll need every hour that he can get to make the right decisions.

does anyone else find it very strange we have appointed Neeld today,

In the words of John McEnroe

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS.

Maximum media exposure on a slow news day. A full hour's analysis on SEN after live press conference cross,

Lead story on Ch10 news tonight

Beat Adelaide to his signature - he was there preferred coach too

Live press conf on Fox sports.

etc, etc.

You beat me to it. Neeld has a massive amount of work to do before the trade period and the draft. He also has to make an assesment on the current list, he'll need every hour that he can get to make the right decisions.

There's some mind boggling ideas on here!

The announcement was by far much better than our last coashing appointment. Mark Williams announced Bailey as the new Melbourne coach at a Port press conference.

From memory Port ended up getting thrashed by Geelong in the GF. I wonder if that is a bad omen for Collingwood!

The announcement was by far much better than our last coashing appointment. Mark Williams announced Bailey as the new Melbourne coach at a Port press conference.

From memory Port ended up getting thrashed by Geelong in the GF. I wonder if that is a bad omen for Collingwood!

I live in hope!

I live in hope!

Ha. We're Dees supporters. It goes without saying!

Of course he needs to start immediately - we've got list management and trade period looming straight after the GF. We've got the Scully picks and the GWS U17 draft so it's even more intense than ever. [censored] Collingwood and the donkey they rode in on.

Exactly - we need not worry about how the timing of this announcement may impact on Collingwood. Those arrogant censors can go and get well and truly censored for all I care!

The reality is that once he signed his contract with the MFC yesterday, Neeld's position with the censors became untenable and frankly all his thoughts, efforts and attention should immediately be directed towards his new role at the MFC. And that is how things work in the real world.

From what little I have seen and heard from Mark Neeld so far I have to say I am impressed - whether he can coach or not I have no clue but he is making all the right noises. As a long time MFC member I hope like hell he can - if only for my own mental well being!

The naysayers, and there are plenty of them apparently, who insist we have somehow failed because we didn't land a 'big fish' a la Malthouse or Lyon, I think are somewhat premature in their indignation. None of the experienced coaches or so called 'big fish' continually linked to the MFC job were much chop in my view - I think we ran the risk of being tied up to a huge dog had we managed to stitch up a long term Malthouse deal for example. The appointment of Mark Neeld for 3 years at least has an air of the future about it - a Malthouse appointment would not. He's a cranky old censor and I reckon not far from going completely mad.

Exactly - we need not worry about how the timing of this announcement may impact on Collingwood. Those arrogant censors can go and get well and truly censored for all I care!

The reality is that once he signed his contract with the MFC yesterday, Neeld's position with the censors became untenable and frankly all his thoughts, efforts and attention should immediately be directed towards his new role at the MFC. And that is how things work in the real world.

From what little I have seen and heard from Mark Neeld so far I have to say I am impressed - whether he can coach or not I have no clue but he is making all the right noises. As a long time MFC member I hope like hell he can - if only for my own mental well being!

The naysayers, and there are plenty of them apparently, who insist we have somehow failed because we didn't land a 'big fish' a la Malthouse or Lyon, I think are somewhat premature in their indignation. None of the experienced coaches or so called 'big fish' continually linked to the MFC job were much chop in my view - I think we ran the risk of being tied up to a huge dog had we managed to stitch up a long term Malthouse deal for example. The appointment of Mark Neeld for 3 years at least has an air of the future about it - a Malthouse appointment would not. He's a cranky old censor and I reckon not far from going completely mad.

With the cup in his hand.

I could handle a bit of that insanity!

Malthouse was interviewed shortly after all the pressers on SEN and said the same thing happened with Chris or Brad Scott (i dunno which one is which!) once

he got appointed at North, it was untenable to have a senior coach of another side sitting in his coaches box. I agree with him.

I think the timing was great in that it happened when not much else was going on in the football world, as strange as that sounds during the finals.

Kudos for getting the coach they wanted, and having the media not catch wind of it until just as it happened last night.

Cool...The Filth will carry on...What Neeld has taught them won't be forgotten in 2 weeks.

does anyone else find it very strange we have appointed Neeld today, meaning he has to walk away from Collingwood immediately? He has been a key member of the coaching staff for 6 months on a premiership campaign, and is going to disappear when they are 2 games from a possible flag? Why didn't we make arrangements with him to start his tenure just after the grand final so he could finish up the season at the Pies? How does Collingwood feel about this?

One of the oddest posts in the history of Demonland ! It is inapproptriate on a site for Dee fanatics to empathise with Collingwood !

Crickey. He was still under contract with the Pies. Will Eddie sue?