Seems a lot of posts about comments that were inoccous at best

Well you will be hopefully pleased when actions speak louder than words.

Bailey's always left me entertained... and look what happened there?

I think all this thread proves is that one person's inconsistency is another person's flexibility.

What amuses me is the notion of who Neeld didn't talk about.

Sort of reminds me when my mum bought me two hoodies for my birthday so the next day I immediately went to her place wearing one of the hoodies.

Her comment was " What ? you dont like the other one ?"

Mark Neeld was interviewed this morning on SEN.

He was asked what his view was on the playing list when he was considering the position and he said he never once did an analysis on the players 2011. He presented to the board his vision for how he would coach our list and what he would do 'going forward'. No looking back. It was the board's job to look at how Neeld wanted to take the MFC forward.

Asked about what surprised him, if anything, about our list, Neeld said he was most pleased with our work ethic and the players' passion for the MFC. He said he was surprised with 'not a lot' about our playing group. He thinks he will be able to answer that once we've played a game, but for now, he's just about teaching the players and working with a new coaching group, so he won't be surprised until we start playing.

On captaincy, Neeld was asked about his opinion on putting a young player in as captain (e.g. Trengove). Neeld said we've come up with an 'Excel spreadsheet' with all the characteristics that we want to see in our leadership group. The coaches are rating every player on our list out of 10 with regards to these traits, and this will help us determine who is best suited to the leadership group. Age is totally irrelevant to this rating. There will be input from the players but the final decision is Neeld's. Co-captains is something he would consider, but he said 'we'd consider everything, so I won't close the door on anything'.

Neeld said that Grimes and Trengove, in particular, are mature and held in great esteem at our club.

Then on Brad Green, Dr Turf said it was a sticky situation in that we really had no one else to captain us in 2011 except him, and the situation was forced on him a bit. Neeld agreed. Green's indicated to the club that he will be totally fine if he isn't captain in 2012.

Neeld said Gawn's injury hasn't changed our thoughts for Clark. For rucks we have Jamar, Martin and Sellar (they were the three he mentioned). Clark may have to go in the ruck but Gawn's injury hasn't changed our plans.

Asked about our level of fitness and our footy smarts, Neeld said he was 'quite pleased' with the fitness when we came back after 8 weeks off. Also mentioned that we were teaching the players a 'new game style'.

Lastly Hutchy asked what a good season looks like for Jack Watts. Neeld said 'consistency'. He wants to see Watts cement his spot in the side, because according to him, no one has really cemented their spot. He's going to ask a few new things of Watts this year. Neeld said he sees Watts as still being in a development stage of his career, and that if he gets to play 20 or so games that's a great step in his development. Dr Turf asked if playing APS and not TAC Cup held back his development. Neeld said he had an opinion on that but said he couldn't share it. Then he said he was involved with the TAC Cup and said that some players aren't suited to that route. And he left it at that.

Thanks for the overview, t_u. Will keep an eye out for it on the SEN website.

It's pleasing to see that age is not seen as an input into the selection criteria in choosing a Captain. This is an important aspect of having the team accept whoever the new Skipper will be.

As for Jack Watts, I think Neeld will be pleasantly surprised this season.

I do enjoy listening to Mark speak. He also has a sense of humour. Interesting to hear him say he has a few different things that he has told Jack Watts he wants him to do and said when he presented to the board put up his game plan and had the players in the positions where he wants them. I wonder if anyone will have a new spot.

Laughed when he said why does everyone ask me about Jack Watts, and said poor Jack he cops it from everywhere but pointed out he wants him to have a consistent season and if he plays 60 games at the end of the saeson then that shows he was picked for 20 matches during the season and thats good for him.

But basically said he will hear the others coaches opinions and read this excel spreadsheet but he will have the final say on the captaincy.

If anyone had any doubts about Neeld as a media performer or his public personna then that interview should have dispelled them. Hoepfully, it will be available soon for replay through SEN's website.

He also made it clear that irrespective of whatever is happening at the moment, the big test will be when the team starts playing games.

He made it very clear that he is implementing a very different game plan and that's how it should be IMO. Supporters of Dean Bailey and what he did in the past should not take offence at that - Neeld is his own man and is bringing a new and different stamp to the club which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for the reports guys. Will check the pod tonight.

I enjoyed the interview and always find Mark Neeld interesting to listen to. As he says Jack Watts is a developing 40 game player, if he plays 20 games this year then he is developing well. The message is that you need to earn your games no matter who you are and what potential you may have, no one will be given a game.

Just a little read from the AFL website.

Plot thickens

So unlike some of the experts here, Watts thought Neelds comments were "spot on".

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jack-watts-lifts-workrate-after-spray-from-coach-mark-neeld/story-e6frf9jf-1226272148113

So unlike some of the experts here, Watts thought Neelds comments were "spot on".

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jack-watts-lifts-workrate-after-spray-from-coach-mark-neeld/story-e6frf9jf-1226272148113

You are kidding!!

Neeld to speak on SEN morning show tomorrow with Andy Whatshisname and Tim Watson.

So unlike some of the experts here, Watts thought Neelds comments were "spot on".

http://www.heraldsun...f-1226272148113

Oh, because Jack would tell the world if his new coach was giving him an unnecessarily hard time...

And, as an aside, the article alludes to Jack talking to a journo at an AFL function while the club has had 'steer clear' policy to journos at MFC functions.

So, I don't know if the club wants him to say anything at all...

Oh, because Jack would tell the world if his new coach was giving him an unnecessarily hard time...

And, as an aside, the article alludes to Jack talking to a journo at an AFL function while the club has had 'steer clear' policy to journos at MFC functions.

So, I don't know if the club wants him to say anything at all...

No what Jack said is that he took the new Coach's hard line advice the right way, and has in fact embraced it.

I doubt the club would be concerned with that.

I certainly am not.

Edited February 16, 201213 yr by why you little

Oh, because Jack would tell the world if his new coach was giving him an unnecessarily hard time...

And, as an aside, the article alludes to Jack talking to a journo at an AFL function while the club has had 'steer clear' policy to journos at MFC functions.

So, I don't know if the club wants him to say anything at all...

Your right it's better to assume the coach doesnt know what he is doing and jump to conclusions without any evidence at all.

For what it's worth I agree that jack wasn't going to come out air any grievance. But he didn't need to be so effusive if he had such a distaste for what was said. It seems fairly genuine...but I can see why you might now have a hard time taking people on their word.

rpfc's first line WYL, is a "what else is Jack going to say" moment....

No worries (in advance).

rpfc's first line WYL, is a "what else is Jack going to say" moment....

No worries (in advance).

Quite possibly. But if Jack had been unhappy i am sure we would have known about it long ago.

The times i have had a new boss who has wanted to up the output. I always enjoyed the challenge. I have never understood why people have been uncomfortable with this scenario, after last years debacle.

Your right it's better to assume the coach doesnt know what he is doing and jump to conclusions without any evidence at all.

For what it's worth I agree that jack wasn't going to come out air any grievance. But he didn't need to be so effusive if he had such a distaste for what was said. It seems fairly genuine...but I can see why you might now have a hard time taking people on their word.

Ouch.

I felt that one.

I am happy that expectations on all players are higher, and Jack is up there with the most important players we have.

And I am sure that every player would have been given a stern chat about those expectations when Neeld first came to the club.

But the fact remains that Jack wouldn't say Neeld was giving him a hard time, whether he was or not. He's a smart kid, Jack. He even thought to down play any animosity with HWFUA as we don't need any fuel on that fire...

Edited February 16, 201213 yr by rpfc

Ouch.

I felt that one.

I am happy that expectations on all players are higher, and Jack is up there with the most important players we have.

And I am sure that every player would have been given a stern chat about those expectations when Neeld first came to the club.

But the fact remains that Jack wouldn't say Neeld was giving him a hard time, whether he was or not. He's a smart kid, Jack. He even thought to down play any animosity with HWFUA as we don't need any fuel on that fire...

Ha ha sorry about that.

Speaking of facts though, I don't see any suggesting that Neelds comments have had a negative impact which is being implied by some posters.

I guess we will never know.

Ouch.

I felt that one.

I am happy that expectations on all players are higher, and Jack is up there with the most important players we have.

And I am sure that every player would have been given a stern chat about those expectations when Neeld first came to the club.

But the fact remains that Jack wouldn't say Neeld was giving him a hard time, whether he was or not. He's a smart kid, Jack. He even thought to down play any animosity with HWFUA as we don't need any fuel on that fire...

Jack said that he was happy with the challenge however. If he was unhappy he may have said nothing at all. If Jack came out and said that he took it on board (When he was really upset/not happy about it) would suggest he was pulling a T$ and not telling the truth

Jack said that he was happy with the challenge however. If he was unhappy he may have said nothing at all.

Not necessarily.If he was media astute, he would have still said he was happy with challenge. He would not air a grievance directly or indirectly in the media.

Not necessarily.If he was media astute, he would have still said he was happy with challenge. He would not air a grievance directly or indirectly in the media.

Well i hope we don't have another T$ who says things that aren't true.

I don't see how he could be happy with something that is a grievance to him.

Neeld is exactly what Jack Watts needs to push him to be a great player when he could comfortably slide through as just a good one.

Edited February 16, 201213 yr by PaulRB