Neil Craig - we are in great hands

[Guest José Mourinho]

Unfortunately only 1 team can win the flag each year.

Does that mean the other 17 coaches are duds?

Craig was a very good coach for a long time, and his end at the crows was symptomatic of the average football supporter being too impatient and not understanding enough of the list building process.

Recent history has shown that Craig developed a young list poised for finals success, just as he said shortly before he succumbed to external pressure.

Only a fool would give all the credit to Sanderson - drastic change can't be effected that quickly.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Great Thread,really good to hear what there doing to fix the playing group.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Unfortunately only 1 team can win the flag each year.

Does that mean the other 17 coaches are duds?

Craig was a very good coach for a long time, and his end at the crows was symptomatic of the average football supporter being too impatient and not understanding enough of the list building process.

Recent history has shown that Craig developed a young list poised for finals success, just as he said shortly before he succumbed to external pressure.

Only a fool would give all the credit to Sanderson - drastic change can't be effected that quickly.

I agree with you there.

[Cards13 9,117]

Unfortunately only 1 team can win the flag each year.

Does that mean the other 17 coaches are duds?

Craig was a very good coach for a long time, and his end at the crows was symptomatic of the average football supporter being too impatient and not understanding enough of the list building process.

Recent history has shown that Craig developed a young list poised for finals success, just as he said shortly before he succumbed to external pressure.

Only a fool would give all the credit to Sanderson - drastic change can't be effected that quickly.

Will be interesting to see how the Crows back up in year 2 of Sando and beyond as a contrast to him "taking" over a house already built.

[John Crow Batty 8,375]

There were clearly issues in 2011 between Craig and some players. Adelaide were insipid and disintered for most of the season. Remember our demolition of them. Players like Taylor Walker and Ivan Maric who left were on the outer. Sanderson has got the team playing like a well drilled unit again with ethos and discipline in the blink of an eye. For us the the turbulence at the club appears to have gotten worse under the Neeld/Craig combination. We do not play remotely like an AFL standard team should. Only as ndividuals. Something is still very wrong here.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

There were clearly issues in 2011 between Craig and some players. Adelaide were insipid and disintered for most of the season. Remember our demolition of them. Players like Taylor Walker and Ivan Maric who left were on the outer. Sanderson has got the team playing like a well drilled unit again with ethos and discipline in the blink of an eye. For us the the turbulence at the club appears to have gotten worse under the Neeld/Craig combination. We do not play remotely like an AFL standard team should. Only as ndividuals. Something is still very wrong here.

In case it's escaped your notice, we haven't for quite a few years.

[Guest Spirit of 39]

There were clearly issues in 2011 between Craig and some players. Adelaide were insipid and disintered for most of the season. Remember our demolition of them. Players like Taylor Walker and Ivan Maric who left were on the outer. Sanderson has got the team playing like a well drilled unit again with ethos and discipline in the blink of an eye. For us the the turbulence at the club appears to have gotten worse under the Neeld/Craig combination. We do not play remotely like an AFL standard team should. Only as ndividuals. Something is still very wrong here.

You forgot to mention that Craig, after inheriting a basket case from Gary Ayres, took Adelaide to a prelim final the following year. (The same thing as what Sanderson did this year.) He had a 60% winning record in his eight years as coach of Adelaide and took them to the finals in five of his eight years there. His last year there may not have been great but every coach has his use-by date in this industry.

People really do see what they want to see. I'm really glad that we Craigy on board with us.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Roost - they've only had 12 months.

To go from being way below par, to then meet the standard, and then hopefully exceed it, takes time.

The thing that inspires confidence, for me at least, is that they are now focussing on the fundamentals. Also, they now have a plan that seems to be built around the basics - discipline, fitness, structure etc.

Good effective planning, executed well, generally creates results. Positive results.

For me, the narrative is not wearing thin. In fact, I find it encouraging.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

And for the Neil Craig detractors who are asking particularly clever questions such as, "why then did Adelaide get rid of Craig as coach?", cop a tip.

Neil Craig's not employed by the MFC as our head coach. He's employed for his undoubted experience in elite sport as the director of sports performance, a role created for him.

And remember - he chose the MFC. Many other clubs wanted his services.

[John Crow Batty 8,375]

In case it's escaped your notice, we haven't for quite a few years.

and getting worse. surprising all you blinkered defenders of the club hierarchy haven't realised this.

[Guest Spirit of 39]

Some people are never happy unless they're miserable. Me? I prefer to look on the brighter side of life and give people an opportunity.

Go Dees!

[dee-luded 2,958]

There were clearly issues in 2011 between Craig and some players. Adelaide were insipid and disintered for most of the season. Remember our demolition of them. Players like Taylor Walker and Ivan Maric who left were on the outer. Sanderson has got the team playing like a well drilled unit again with ethos and discipline in the blink of an eye. For us the the turbulence at the club appears to have gotten worse under the Neeld/Craig combination. We do not play remotely like an AFL standard team should. Only as ndividuals. Something is still very wrong here.

Something has been very wrong for 10 years, & our culture has been lacking for decades.

What we see is the place being turned UpSide Down & shaken... thankfully.

Otherwise we could be going through the motions for another 25Yrs.

[dee-luded 2,958]

Anyone think to ask why Craig was let go by Adelaide?

No. But I did wonder why John Kennedy was removed, & Barassi, Sheedy, Matthews, Pagan,,,,

[monoccular 16,654]

No need to respond.

btw I loved Greg Parke.....horrible shot for goal though (I remember painfully filling in the points section of the old b&w footy record next to his name). but he was a huge mark and I had his autograph as a kid

Wells 11 - interesting comments in a Craig thread. Has your psychiatrist tried to help you cope with these fleeting ideas appearing out of the blue?

[djr 1,093]

and getting worse. surprising all you blinkered defenders of the club hierarchy haven't realised this.

[sigh] its becoming sooo tiresome reading posts like yours everyday. I am so sorry that you seem to live in such an anger space. We all know how shite we have been but if you can't see any light at the end of the tunnel, then I am sorry for you. You might want to look at other aspects of your life that causes you to think this way.

[demonattack 27]

I believe in Craig.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,086]

1. Craig built that Adelaide list and Sando is just riding on the new coach syndrome for my mind. He is HIGHLY respected and we were lucky to get him given that Collingwood and others were circling.

2. I will guarantee anyone here that MFC will take Viney at what ever it takes - pick 3 pick 78 - doesnt matter he will be a Dee... End of story. Any other speculation is incorrect. I know this as a fact.

3. The claim that Neeld was hired on a pitch of 'our list is great' is incorrect. Neeld was approached because we wanted a harder discipline coach who demanded 'elite level standards at every level and unrelenting high performance'. Some did claim that our list was the bees knees and I think our list underperformed in 2012 because many were not coping with the heavily increased fitness regime. 

Many players have said as much. But it appears that we may lost a large chunk of our list and both the Scott brothers have been pretty harsh in their assessment of our list over the last four years.  

4. If you think you can doubt Neeld and Craig based in 2012 you just dont understand footy to be frank. They may prove to be unsuccessful but its impossible to say based on recruiting and based on the vast increase in training standards.

5. No surprises with the direction RE recruiting - our development of drafting potential has obviously been poor in the past. While I'd assume that we'd have to get lucky eventually, all indications via media, rumour and contacts suggest that we are approaching just about EVERY free agent or trade option we think can play a role which is unprecedented. We want and need older leadership and Neeld made that pretty clear early in the season that he saw that was significantly lacking in our 2012 listed players.

Lets revisit this post in Julyish 2013 and see what people have to say then.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,086]

Unfortunately only 1 team can win the flag each year.

Does that mean the other 17 coaches are duds?

Craig was a very good coach for a long time, and his end at the crows was symptomatic of the average football supporter being too impatient and not understanding enough of the list building process.

Recent history has shown that Craig developed a young list poised for finals success, just as he said shortly before he succumbed to external pressure.

Only a fool would give all the credit to Sanderson - drastic change can't be effected that quickly.

Superb post. Well said.

[Guest]

I believe in Craig.

I am getting a little weirded out by all this 'I believe in Neeld' and 'I believe in Craig' stuff. Especially as I have just finished reading Batman:The Long Halloween and I have seen the Dark Knight. Just remember what happened to Harvey Dent.

[Dillon and Parke 5]

I believe in Craig.

now this is getting a little scary

[pitmaster 3,157]

Roost - they've only had 12 months.

To go from being way below par, to then meet the standard, and then hopefully exceed it, takes time.

The thing that inspires confidence, for me at least, is that they are now focussing on the fundamentals. Also, they now have a plan that seems to be built around the basics - discipline, fitness, structure etc.

Good effective planning, executed well, generally creates results. Positive results.

For me, the narrative is not wearing thin. In fact, I find it encouraging.

ALSO RB, people, me included, mocked him when he said, while Adelaide was struggling under his coaching, that they had a great list and he could see them doing great things.

In hindsight, it says something about his ability to judge players and balance a list. He was gone before that year was out, but I am glad we have picked him up.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Say what you will about this comment but I have been saying this before 2012 season even started.

We where going to place our selves in the right position to use our pioritey pick to best to our advantage and as a Demond support it would have been unsettling if we didn't considering it had to be done to get a player like Scully back at our club for the future.

There was way to much talk of educating the young list this season for me to think this is true.

I still feel we will see a very different MFC in 2013.

If you don't believe me please remind me of this comment this time next year.