I think the reason why MM said he couldn't stay on is because MN is a guy who puts in 110% and while he would have tried to finish out the finals with collingwood he wouldn't be able to not think about what he wanted to do at Melbourne as senior coach.Therefore not giving collingwood 110%

I can't see why an assistant cannot stay on to finish his season at his club before commencing a new role elsewhere. Only a few rounds to go and there was never conflict of interest with us not being in the finals race. There would be very few secrets left to guard and it should have been Collingwoods best interest that he fulfilled his role at a critical time of the season. Coaches are more tradeable entitles with not as much angst or loyalty factor when they depart for whatever reason unlike players.

Malthouse told him "You are the coach of another club" and that's why he can't stay around.

It's difficult for clubs to lose coaches at that stage, but that is life.

As soon as Neeld was told by Schwab his life changed and as an MFC supporter I'm glad he focussed wholly on the future of my club rather than the next few weeks of a job he used to have.

I would have been concerned if Neeld was appointed and finished his obligations at Collingwood.

Once he accepted the job, it would have been a conflct to have continued at the Pies and to focus on MFC.

Collingwood shafted MM and maybe MM returned the compliment knowing that Neeld's presence in the last two games would be invaluable.

MM had nothing to win or lose as it was to be his last year coaching.

I believe that MM deliberately sabotaged Collingwood's chances of back to back flags.

I am also happy to believe that the wobbles success in the last few years was due more to Neeld than Malthouse.

Collingwood shafted MM ..I believe that MM deliberately sabotaged Collingwood's chances of back to back flags.

Sounds like a perfect match.

I know this will go against the 'I hate Collingwood and suck on them' attitude here, but I can feel their pain here. 2 weeks without their midfield coach was a big loss. 2 weeks with us didn't really achieve anything. In the NFL they don't sign a coach to a new team until that team is done for the year. I think that's fair. The original team signed them in good faith that they would complete their job. 2 weeks before the end they pull the pin? At the most important part of the season. *Ducks for cover*

I'd wager Neeld achieved a lot more than you realised.

I don't think the rest of our coaches selected and recruited themselves.

The structure of the football department didn't design itself.

There was a whole list of footballers he hadn't seen up close, whose film he needed to watch, to give himself a good grounding for making list deletions and additions.

Etc. etc.

Collingwood shafted MM and maybe MM returned the compliment knowing that Neeld's presence in the last two games would be invaluable.

MM had nothing to win or lose as it was to be his last year coaching.

I believe that MM deliberately sabotaged Collingwood's chances of back to back flags.

I am also happy to believe that the wobbles success in the last few years was due more to Neeld than Malthouse.

Neeld knew that having been given the job, and despite MM's blessing, if he wants success it's better to plan early and get who he wants (his list of demands), rather than stay in his (now former) job for another week and miss the opportunity in plucking his targets (ie assistant coaches).

Along with Lutz, I'd also wager that he achieved a little more than you realise during that first week on the job.

As for your last sentence, I'm happy to believe that Neeld was significant value in the Pies Premiership in 2010.

edit: IMO Sanderson knew he had to begin asap, not to miss out on who he saw as the best available in coaching land too.

Often, for coaches in AFL, you only get one shot, make the most of it.

Edited February 8, 201213 yr by H_T

Collingwood shafted MM and maybe MM returned the compliment knowing that Neeld's presence in the last two games would be invaluable.

MM had nothing to win or lose as it was to be his last year coaching.

I believe that MM deliberately sabotaged Collingwood's chances of back to back flags.

I am also happy to believe that the wobbles success in the last few years was due more to Neeld than Malthouse.

I fear you're serious!

MM wanted to win B2B badly, there is NO WAY he would have sabotaged this - it was his flag at least as much as it was Collingwood's flag. If Neeld left with his blessing it was because he genuinely believed a distracted Neeld would harm the Pies flag chances more than help them. Bucks was supposed to step into the breach ...

Collingwood shafted MM and maybe MM returned the compliment knowing that Neeld's presence in the last two games would be invaluable.

MM had nothing to win or lose as it was to be his last year coaching.

I believe that MM deliberately sabotaged Collingwood's chances of back to back flags.

I am also happy to believe that the wobbles success in the last few years was due more to Neeld than Malthouse.

Why would Malthouse sabotage his own flag chances??

Get real...Back 2 Back Coaches are rare. MM would have loved to get there for HIS PLAYERS sake as much as his own and his assistants.

We all hope Neeld is as good or better, but do not take anything away from MM....he read the war books, it was his strategy.

I fear you're serious!

MM wanted to win B2B badly, there is NO WAY he would have sabotaged this - it was his flag at least as much as it was Collingwood's flag. If Neeld left with his blessing it was because he genuinely believed a distracted Neeld would harm the Pies flag chances more than help them. Bucks was supposed to step into the breach ...

Old I too believe that originally he wanted back to backs badly but that as it got closer he was really stewing on effectively being dumped. He also knew Neeld's value to Cpllingwood and got his revenge. Lets see how this year pans out and if the wobbles go backward and the Demons advance we will have a fair indication.

Old I too believe that originally he wanted back to backs badly but that as it got closer he was really stewing on effectively being dumped. He also knew Neeld's value to Cpllingwood and got his revenge. Lets see how this year pans out and if the wobbles go backward and the Demons advance we will have a fair indication.

I agree with you to the extent that he may have unintentionally sabotaged the flag effort. His performance on TFS was absolutely disgraceful, but there is no way he deliberately sabotaged it - he's too selfish, that TFS performance proved it.

I'd wager Neeld achieved a lot more than you realised.

Absolutely. Misson (amongst others) was signed up in that period. Neeld said at the Bluey that he hadn't even been home since being appointed on that Friday afternoon.

It's easy to forget just how complete the overhaul of our FD has been, and underestimate the amount of work involved in doing so. Look at the likes of Bulldogs, Adelaide, St Kilda ... all with new coaches, but none with anything like the changes we've made. And all well and truly underway before the Grand Final.

I wonder if we had not taken on Neeld the morning he signed, he would have had his name on an Adelaide contract later that day.

Not sure about "later that day", but certainly the Adelaide boards went into meltdown when we announced Neeld.

the funniest bit was when demetriou said contracts needed "more integrity"

Malthouse was the only 1 at Collingwood amongst those numbskulls that had senior coaching experience .

The only 1 who would have any incling of what Neeld was experiencing or about to experience , hence he suggested Neeld depart .

There is no way he sacrificed the 2011 flag on purpose , he wanted that 1 bad .

Not only would it have made the pressure on Maguire and Buckley more intense after sacking a back to back premiership winning coach , he's now stranded on 3 flags , he woulda loved to be sitting with both Matthews and Sheedy on 4 .

I think any coach who is worth his salt would take his professionalism seriously and will have his head screwed on right to finish the job at hand to the best of his abilities even though he knew he was moving elsewhere next season. Good to see that Neeld was ready to honour his contract and others did the squibbing. Walking out on a commitment because one has a better offer is pee weak IMO. A man of honour would not be distracted from his honouring his commitment.

Edited February 8, 201213 yr by Jackie

Collingwood.........awwwwwwwwwwww poor diddums !!!!

Shattered, I didn't sleep for 3 microseconds on GF night

However it happened - the main thing is that they lost .

However it happened - the main thing is that they lost .

That was good wasn't it!

Malthouse told him "You are the coach of another club" and that's why he can't stay around.

It's difficult for clubs to lose coaches at that stage, but that is life.

As soon as Neeld was told by Schwab his life changed and as an MFC supporter I'm glad he focussed wholly on the future of my club rather than the next few weeks of a job he used to have.

Early days, but I hope Mark Neeld creates a dynasty for himself at the MFC and that he is head coach for the next 15 years.

I read 'Collingwood' and 'annoyed' in the thread title and immediately assumed I don't care.

Good, bring on Queens B'Day

I know this will go against the 'I hate Collingwood and suck on them' attitude here, but I can feel their pain here. 2 weeks without their midfield coach was a big loss. 2 weeks with us didn't really achieve anything. In the NFL they don't sign a coach to a new team until that team is done for the year. I think that's fair. The original team signed them in good faith that they would complete their job. 2 weeks before the end they pull the pin? At the most important part of the season.

*Ducks for cover*

Set in place the ground work for a whole new FD structure that saw Misson, Craig & Rawlings among others join the club. The club had to act swiftly or miss out on the best people and they did and it was about time. I mean look what happened with Wellman, look at previous attempts to get players to the club (Judd, Warnock). I think the wheel is turning and the club is developing a professional edge, it's becomming a club that quality people want to be involved with.

Hey - sadly we didn't have any impact on the Pies on field last year, but if our appointment of Neeld dented their Premiership chances on iota then it is a cause for celebration.

And I was really amused by this : ''We've need to put some more integrity around contracts,'' said Demetriou last night. An interesting juxtaposition that I don't think I have ever seen before. Integrity and Demetriou in the same sentence. LOL.

Edited February 8, 201213 yr by monoccular