In an uncharacteristic show of solidarity, support and co-operation, Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson and Collingwood President Eddie McGuire have jointly announced to the football world that effective from midnight tonight, the two clubs will be swapping coaches. Mark Neeld will now see out his current coaching contract with the Magpies until the end of 2014 and Nathan Buckley will take over at the Demons.

Jackson would make no further comment other than that in arriving at his decision, he placed great weight on the views of Melbourne supporters on the Demonland and Demonology fan sites citing their superior knowledge of the ingredients necessary to make a great coach.

Likewise, McGuire said that he had taken note of the views of the Magpie Army which, after the Fremantle debacle, was demanding blood and the replacement of Buckley with a coach whose game plan more closely resembled that of the previous coach Mick Malthouse.

"In that respect, Mark Neeld who was responsible for devising the game plan and strategy that got us to the 2010 premiership was the obvious choice."

The move which was gratefully accepted by both men, is the the first straight swap of coaches in the AFL/VFL since David Parkin and Robert Walls changed roles at Fitzroy and Carlton respectively in the 1980s.

Recent media reports linking the former Swans coach Paul Roos to both clubs are believed to have contributed to this bold move by Jackson and McGuire. Both men are apparently wary of appointing as coach, someone who reportedly instructed a player not to kick a goal in a NAB Cup game several years ago. "We can't tolerate people in our competition who do things for a joke these days," said McGuire.

Jackson said the exchange would be made easier thanks to the fact that each of the coaches will only have to "move their desks 500 metres down the road". Other than that he suggested that he foresaw few changes to the way the team would be organised but that it was hoped that better results were just around the corner.

He would not comment on a rumoured player swap involving Daisy Thomas and Dane Swan coming to Melbourne next year in exchange for Cameron Pedersen and Jack Watts."

The above is not a real article and isn't what I would be doing if I ran this club. I just thought it was an interesting idea that, like most of what I've been reading lately, won't fly

I think the player swap of Daisy & Swan for ANYONE on our list would make make a much bigger difference this week than swapping our coach with any of Roos, Malthouse or Buckley. Culture takes time to change, those blokes already have it ingrained but didn't always, hopefully our boys are starting to get that. While I realize the coach plays a huge & vital role, it was the playing list & coin that Ross Lyon jumped ship for (not that garbage that 'my game plan executed right will beat any team in the league regardless of who's playing' crap he has been preaching this year). That is for his charges to buy into, but no coach has ever kicked the winning goal etc, its up to them to get the boys out there to do it, and we still have blokes who 3 coaches so far have been unable to get that our of them. Meanwhile a bloke like Nath Jones is doing it regardless.... But I digress.

"He would not comment on a rumoured player swap involving Daisy Thomas and Dane Swan coming to Melbourne next year in exchange for Cameron Pedersen and Jack Watts."

As if we'd exchange Pederson and Watts for those hacks!!!

Tell you what, it's entirely possible that Neeld would have Collingwood going better than Buckley has them I think.

I reckon Buckley may be another Matt Primus waiting to happen.....never thought hed do that well actually.

From a strategic viewpoint, Toovey could be a significant loss for the Pies this year. One of their unsung heroes in the lockdown role he plays on opposition smalls while also being important in rebounding out of defence. It's no coincidence that Walters ran riot last night.

That said, They have Beams, Ball, Young, and Maxwell all to come back over the next few weeks. That's some decent cattle. I'd still be tipping them for top four.

Off topic but i hope we make Toovey an offer at the end of this year, would love him in the Red and Blue, and for the record, i prefer Neeld to Buckley as coach

Didn't Walls and Swooper Northey swap roles between Brisbane and Richmond in the mid 90s?

Didn't Walls and Swooper Northey swap roles between Brisbane and Richmond in the mid 90s?

Damn, I knew I couldn't trust that Wilson woman with a scoop. Never gets it right.