Sacred Cow

[Bring Back Barassi 552]

While many fingers are pointed at Neeld and the players, no one has brought up Neil Craig and his influence on the team. The man stands behind Neeld and plays a huge part in the way the team is run.

Look at his recent record at the Crows, and look at what happened after he left.

They went from hopelessly dull, poor performers to a being in the premiership mix in a single season.

Perhaps Neeld has got to go, but Craig should go with him.

[Demon trucker 1,800]

Hay lets get rid of everybody change for change sake won't solve anything. Why do u think there was a rapid improvement, its because. Their fitness levels are high, that's because of craig. So interns of fitness his the right man his role is high performance.

[jnrmac 20,090]

They're not so flash without Tippet in the team.....

[Bring Back Barassi 552]

Yes, but they were red hot last year, and were absolute rubbish for their last 2 years under Craig.

All this fitness focus is good and well, but our boys have the most atrocious ball skills in the league.

I was chatting to a couple of players at a pre-game function last year, and they were both saying that under Bailey the almost exclusive focus was on ball skills, and under Neeld and Craig, its almost purely fitness.

If fitness was the be all and end all, you'd just recruit a bunch of track stars.

[Cards13 9,117]

Struggling this year...

[demonoid 317]

There were a few very quiet reports yesterday that suggested that there was a meeting Tuesday to discuss what might happen if we lose. Also reported that royal has been demoted and that greaves is now in charge of midfield. Sources were dwayne Russell and sports news first so not hanging my hat on this

[Waltham33 475]

Terrific draw + flying under the radar + Walker and Tippet in top form down forward drove Adelaide last year. Ill take a wait and see approach with them this season

[hardtack 10,547]

Yes, but they were red hot last year, and were absolute rubbish for their last 2 years under Craig.

All this fitness focus is good and well, but our boys have the most atrocious ball skills in the league.

I was chatting to a couple of players at a pre-game function last year, and they were both saying that under Bailey the almost exclusive focus was on ball skills, and under Neeld and Craig, its almost purely fitness.

If fitness was the be all and end all, you'd just recruit a bunch of track stars.

Hang on... can someone please remind me just exactly what Craig's role is at the club? He and Misson have been concentrating on fitness I believe, so I would say he is hardly the focal point for any blame regarding ball skills (yes he advises the assistant coaches and assists Neeld, but he is ultimately not entirely responsible for those particular skill areas).

And looking at his record at the Crows, over 8 years of coaching, he had them in the finals five times including two preliminary finals. Not a bad effort I would have thought as the only real blemish was his final two years at the helm and I would say that it was probably nothing to do with his skills, but more to do with "familiarity breeding contempt" (seems some on this site become a little too familiar with the MFC football coaching staff a little too quickly).

[rpfc 28,458]

I would take his record of 2005 to 2009...

75 wins and 34 losses.

Of all the promise we have at the Dees we have faith in Craig because he has actually done something.

[Satyriconhome 10,878]

And I thought the Adelaide coach came in and got rid of every single player that Craig had spent the previous few years developing, that's why they suddenly became successful

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Hang on... can someone please remind me just exactly what Craig's role is at the club? He and Misson have been concentrating on fitness I believe, so I would say he is hardly the focal point for any blame regarding ball skills (yes he advises the assistant coaches and assists Neeld, but he is ultimately not entirely responsible for those particular skill areas).

And looking at his record at the Crows, over 8 years of coaching, he had them in the finals five times including two preliminary finals. Not a bad effort I would have thought as the only real blemish was his final two years at the helm and I would say that it was probably nothing to do with his skills, but more to do with "familiarity breeding contempt" (seems some on this site become a little too familiar with the MFC football coaching staff a little too quickly).

I went to a meet the coaches function last year and Neeld introduced all the coaches and the developers etc., at the time he said, if the midfield fails it's the Royal's fault, if the backs fail it's the Rawling's fault, if the forwards fail it's Brown's fault, if the players aren't developed properly, it's Viney's fault, and if I can't coach it's Craig's fault.

Maybe something to that; who knows?

[dee-luded 2,959]

While many fingers are pointed at Neeld and the players, no one has brought up Neil Craig and his influence on the team. The man stands behind Neeld and plays a huge part in the way the team is run.

Look at his recent record at the Crows, and look at what happened after he left.

They went from hopelessly dull, poor performers to a being in the premiership mix in a single season.

Perhaps Neeld has got to go, but Craig should go with him.

foolish thinking, why don't you suggest we buy a team in a weet bix box as well.

the truth is Craig built that side up to a fit & strong disciplined team & list.

He just wasn't a finisher, he was a developer... which is where he enjoys to be, as I can gather, he enjoys helping others grow & better themselves.

the finisher, is "the Barassi type", you seem to mock.

we have a coach who is determined to get the bad culture Out, & its a bit like pulling teeth, very painful for the supporters who don't get it,,, & painful there after for some time until the healing has happened.

but this culture is rooted itself into our club again, & has been living a comfortable life since the Barassi /Northey times finished.

Barassi/Jordan routed it & handed the club over as in doing the job barassi had many of the players backs up & many were playing in-spite of him..

... the handover saw the new breed, Jordans boys emerging, & schwab recruited a handful of mature players, Spalding Viney, Dean, Koop, Stretch, & others I can't think of right now, & they exploded into action with a now maturing Stynes & a flying Sean Wight...

this is the truth & Barassi's 5 Yr plan grew this. he brought Jordan with him for this very reason. just because the improvement on the Ladder didn't happen under his reign does not at all mean it wasn't his baby that took all before them in 87.

Edited April 18, 2013 by dee-luded

[PJ_12345 1,098]

While many fingers are pointed at Neeld and the players, no one has brought up Neil Craig and his influence on the team. The man stands behind Neeld and plays a huge part in the way the team is run.

Look at his recent record at the Crows, and look at what happened after he left.

They went from hopelessly dull, poor performers to a being in the premiership mix in a single season.

Perhaps Neeld has got to go, but Craig should go with him.

Craig is regarded as one of the best in the business. We were extremely lucky to have him.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

While many fingers are pointed at Neeld and the players, no one has brought up Neil Craig and his influence on the team. The man stands behind Neeld and plays a huge part in the way the team is run.

Look at his recent record at the Crows, and look at what happened after he left.

They went from hopelessly dull, poor performers to a being in the premiership mix in a single season.

Perhaps Neeld has got to go, but Craig should go with him.

Thought you might be interested in some facts about Neil Craig considering you dont have any:

• Longest serving coach for the Crows
• Lead them to finals for four consequitive years and a total of 9 finals
• Worked with the Australian Cycling team during the 2000 Sydney Olympics
• Worked with the SAIS (South Australian Institute of Sport) as a senior sports scientist
• During 2005 to 2009 coached the Crows to win 75 games out of 119
• Worked as assistant coach and fitness adivser during the Crows 1997 and 1998 premerships
• Was writen off in his first season with most people predicting the Crows to come in the bottom 6 in 2005... they came 4th

• All round extremely nice guy, well liked, and well respected.

Edited April 18, 2013 by PJ_12345

[stuie 7,374]

I went to a meet the coaches function last year and Neeld introduced all the coaches and the developers etc., at the time he said, if the midfield fails it's the Royal's fault, if the backs fail it's the Rawling's fault, if the forwards fail it's Brown's fault, if the players aren't developed properly, it's Viney's fault, and if I can't coach it's Craig's fault.

Maybe something to that; who knows?

Yeah there is something to that... Apparently nothing is Neeld's fault, according to him...