Neeld Sacked with Craig as Interim Coach

[hardtack 10,127]

Thank you .. I like to call it as I see it... You call it as YOU see it.. Free Speech..I am hoping the "soft" approach of the past ceases .. Please try not to keep it going.. !! Toughen up.. !! and we will start to become more successful.. !! Like the top Clubs.. Your comment is typical over a statement made by a member with obviously a more realistic and tougher attitude than yours... !!! This Club HAS to become more ruthless with it's attitude towards mediocrity... It is supposed to be part of a professional Organization.. Let it start acting like it is... !!!

Yes I can tell by your use of exclamation marks... Seinfeld would be pleased.

[old dee 22,854]

Perhaps not to give him the impression he was safe on Monday and vote to sack him on the Friday? I know it's brutal, but people tend to forget that we are dealing with real people and real emotions.

Is that fact hardtack?

I don't remember anyone saying that.

But I have been out of the country for two weeks.

[DeeSpencer 23,134]

At least Magner will get a game this week,Neil Craig loves him.

No more games for Rodan,Bail,Nicho,Gillies,

I hope Magner gets a game but I find it hard that the crowbot/fitness king won't be tempted by Bail or Nicholson.

It will be interesting to see they way Craig goes from here. I think we knew when Viney came in he'd try and few different blokes and focus on the hard stuff first. Rawlings when he came in to Richmond was pretty much going to clear out Wallace's crap and play this kids. But their is some reality in that if Craig just plays kids I doubt he can get improvement. I think we overrate our kids and guys like Magner, Joel Macdonald, even a Sellar might be best 22 at times.

[titan_uranus 22,366]

I was out of the country when the Bailey sacking occurred and did not know about it until I returned. As for this sacking, I still cannot see that telling someone they are safe for the present on the Monday, and then voting to sack him on the Friday is a particularly good way of doing things.

As PJ said in the press conference, if we'd told him on Friday night, without time to call a press conference, it would have been all over the media over the weekend. It would have leaked; everything does, these days. Neeld would have copped media flak all weekend; people at his house, invading his space, etc.

The decision was made on Friday so that this morning we could spring into action without having to wade through throngs of media, without having the papers pre-empt anything.

[Sir Why You Little 34,501]

I hope Mark goes on a good holiday. It's been tough on him. I feel sorry for him, but he was just not experienced enough to do the job.

Good luck Mark.

The MFC must stay tough. More staff and players will go.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

I picked Craig to be intrim over Viney, but didn't think Neeld would get axed so soon.

Would have been good to see what he could have done against St Kilda and the Bulldogs but such is life and most people would say he had all season.

Ultimately Neeld did what any coach would had to have done: get rid of our dead weight and try to fix the culture.

The undoing of his career however was he was too heavy handed when restructuring the list and caused some significant holes in the midfield.

I liked his plan of drafting in premership, leaders and experienced players from other clubs for next to nothing to combat our young and inexperienced list and to bring promote a better work ethic culture.

However, he grossly underestimated the importance of a midfield, ironic considering he was a midfield coach, and clearly overestimated the fitness and skills of our list.

Whoever is going to be appointed next cannot fix this list overnight. The biggest factor of us losing games is our skills and fitness. Simply we dont have the fitness to provide second efforts or chase other clubs who can, and when we do have the ball, its our lack of skill which turns it over - just look at other clubs conversions from our turnovers.

Neeld clearly had to create a game plan around this fitness, such as zoning, which was a failure, and unfortunately made some very questionable choices re choosing certain players.

Craig will have a free pass for the rest of the season and can focus on getting game experience into the younger kids rather than focusing on trying to save his job like Neeld which is a positive. I'd like to see Couch and Gawn play a few games for example.

Thanks for all the hard work you put in Mark and best of luck.

Edited June 17, 2013 by PJ_12345

[old dee 22,854]

Poor Neeld, he got handed a bloody great mess. But that's football.

Change is happening (again) at MFC, let this be for the last time.

Are we disbanding?

[hardtack 10,127]

Poor Neeld, he got handed a bloody great mess. But that's football.

Change is happening (again) at MFC, let this be for the last time.

Well, that depends on how you interpret "the last time" ;-)

[[email protected] 101]

The Question is ?

Did the Playing Group get the message ???

Wont it be interesting to see their reaction in the next game they play .

Now they have "no excuse" with Neeld, gone to at least not be Competitive from here on in!!

Good luck to Graig I believe his going to need buckets of it !!!!

I have never heard any player use Neeld as an excuse ??? many of them are below AFL standard.. The list will OBVIOUSLY change for 2014.... Drastically !! It won't "be interesting to see their reaction in the next game they play" They are simply not up to it !! Big changes to the culture and list for next year please !!

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

The board will be the only ones left to feel the brunt in the next few months.

All the assistant coaches will remain in their current positions.

When the new coach is appointed, he will bring the assistants he requires.

[rpfc 27,476]

I was out of the country when the Bailey sacking occurred and did not know about it until I returned. As for this sacking, I still cannot see that telling someone they are safe for the present on the Monday, and then voting to sack him on the Friday is a particularly good way of doing things.

I said at the time when Bailey was ousted that there is are no good ways to dismiss a coach.

Even with the short change of tune, this is lightyears ahead of what we did to Bailey.

Good Intentions by Jimmy but that is the contractor the Devils uses for his landscape design...

[hardtack 10,127]

Is that fact hardtack?

I don't remember anyone saying that.

But I have been out of the country for two weeks.

OD, I didn't say anyone said he was safe, but the fact that he met with the board, they discussed the result and he appeared to be safe is why I made that comment; it was my take on things.

[old dee 22,854]

OD, I didn't say anyone said he was safe, but the fact that he met with the board, they discussed the result and he appeared to be safe is why I made that comment; it was my take on things.

The only fact I know of is that he and the FD were in the meeting for 1.5 hours vs the normal 30 minutes.

After that I know nothing .

My theory is that meeting set the wheels in motion.

The only restrictive was cost of paying him out.

It appears that on friday with the AFL giving the nod on assistance he was gone.

[KLV 1,633]

I'm probably an optomist, but I feel, the clarity with which PJ explained the decision, bodes well for our future. He's there, he knows, dare I say it, we have to trust his judgement.

Can you imagine CS saying all that about us being a liability or an impediment to the entire afl & their stake holders?

[The Chazz 4,077]

I like many have been 50/50 stay or go. But in reality the MFC have destroyed another career regardless if he or Bailey where initially the correct choices they were both treated very poorly. We now move on again but I must say I'm impressed with the CEO he is class. No more Gary Lyon please and IMO our biggest issue was Cameron Schwab the club now has a pretty fresh slate with some quality people and players but improvement on and off the field must start now

I somehow don't think Peter Jackson will have Garry's number on speed dial.

Regardless of your personal views about the AFL getting involved in running our Club, it is a refreshing feeling that I've got knowing change is here. No more boys club special treatment. I just hope when everything is sorted from a structural point of view that the players realise that while they are the most important part of the whole process, they don't get to dictate change via onfield statements.

[Guest]

I'm probably an optomist, but I feel, the clarity with which PJ explained the decision, bodes well for our future. He's there, he knows, dare I say it, we have to trust his judgement.

Can you imagine CS saying all that about us being a liability or an impediment to the entire afl & their stake holders?

He would probably have spun us a yarn about Thomas Wills and the variety of oranges that the '57 premiership team used to eat at half time.

Edited June 17, 2013 by Guest

[PD72 22]

Jackson was involved in appointing Knights as coach at Essendon. Knights lost the players after a promising start and the game plan was all out attack no defending at all. I hope Knights doesn't get the job but l think he will be on your short list.

From an outsiders view Eade as the coach , maybe Ayres as a senior assistant , McDonald returns to Melbourne in some capacity and some people fresh out of the game.

Only bad thing with Jackson was the Knights appointment which was a major balls up.

[[email protected] 101]

Inspired by Arnold's visit last week were we?......sit behind a keyboard and take pot shots at people, seems rather soft wouldn't you say?

I told you last week You are off my "reply" list for several reasons !! Sorry I find a need to rear my ugly head again by lowering myself to reply to you one more time !! It will be the last !! I don't need to be inspired by a visit from a steroid filled Hollywood actor !! For you to say ANYONE sits behind a keyboard taking pot shots at people is laughable ,considering your record is exactly that on this site !! No I wouldn't say "rather soft" as you put it !! I wasn't having "pot shots' ..Just expressing opinions as I see most people on here doing !! I stand by what I said and no doubt you do to.. BUT PLEASE...waste your time replying to somebody else as I requested previously.. If I ever have occasion to meet you personally ..I may have an opportunity to prove to you that I DO NOT try and hide behind a keyboard... !!! Best wishes to you.. Hopefully the club gains some respect again in the near future...

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,078]

Knee jerk? Neeld lost the players - the intense bakings of 2012 clearly didn't work.

he walks away with one win from a season and a half of footy.

[old dee 22,854]

I'm probably an optomist, but I feel, the clarity with which PJ explained the decision, bodes well for our future. He's there, he knows, dare I say it, we have to trust his judgement.

Can you imagine CS saying all that about us being a liability or an impediment to the entire afl & their stake holders?

He is spot on I have been saying that since round 2.

[PD72 22]

I heard he still told someone at the club "look if you dont appoint me now, Im accepting Adelaide this afternoon". Mick Malthouse was at his shoulder, he was at Pies training.

And no he hadnt made the short list.

But its just what I heard...

That's what l thought happened as well. Melbourne got in first because the Crows wanted him as well.

[John Dee 437]

Only bad thing with Jackson was the Knights appointment which was a major balls up.

Whilst I agree that Knights had issues, I think that the first coach after Sheedy was a dead man walking.

[Maldonboy38 5,861]

Mixture of relief and sadness for me.

It could not continue waiting, waiting, waiting for something to click when it became apparent that Neeld could not produce that click. I am a bit surprised that Craig was picked for the interim - I probably would have chosen Rawlings. I just want one week in which we win a game, and the media is not reporting on "poor struggling Melbourne". I hope this is the beginning of change we have been waiting 7 years for.

I feel a deep sadness for Mark Neeld. Looking at all the factors leading up to his appointment and the culture of our club at present, it had "failure" written all over it (the Board, Schwab and Connolly, poor fitness etc...), even though I was a real fan of his initial appointment.

Totally disagree about major changes to our list. We need two quality midfielders and then delist dead wood like Dunn. Gillies, etc... but I see quality in defense and attack.

[[email protected] 101]

Yes I can tell by your use of exclamation marks... Seinfeld would be pleased.

Sorry I wasn't aware you were an English Teacher.. I like Seinfield... Great comedian .. Hope I am following in his footsteps.. Wouldn't mind his bank balance... You can make comparisons if you wish but it doesn't change my opinion.. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Edited June 17, 2013 by [email protected]

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,078]

Wait and see how we play now. That will make all clear.