Neeld will be happy - $600k payout and no more pressure & sleepless nights to get the most out of this playing list. He will probably move interstate and become an assistant coach again somewhere.

We had to do it now to give us 3 months of talks about needing a new coach, giving us the best chance of landing a good experienced coach (Rodney Eade most likely).

Craig is statistically a far better coach than Neeld will be interesting to see how he goes.

Neeld will be happy - $600k payout and no more pressure & sleepless nights to get the most out of this playing list. He will probably move interstate and become an assistant coach again somewhere.

We had to do it now to give us 3 months of talks about needing a new coach, giving us the best chance of landing a good experienced coach (Rodney Eade most likely).

Craig is statistically a far better coach than Neeld will be interesting to see how he goes.

I bet if we lose this week there will be a new thread "Time to Go Craig"!!!!!!

I think we are. We've been umming and ahhring for the last few weeks but this can't go on. I trust Jackson has come to an informed view and it's best to just move on.

I'll be interested to see how the press conference is handled. I think it might say a bit about how this club is going to conduct itself going forward.

I wonder if they will leave the logo's up this time?

I can't believe anyone can seriously complain about this decision. We are a complete joke on and off the field and have gone backwards at a frightening rate since Neeld started.

This had to happen and it had happen before there was any further damage.

We have two winnable games coming up. The timing is right. We could have sacked him at year's end and still been without a coach for a time period. This allows us to hunt for a new coach without added complications and without doing so behind the current coach's back. It will ensure we can hit the ground running from day one of off season, especially in terms of list management.

I bet if we lose this week there will be a new thread "Time to Go Craig"!!!!!!

Can we just start it now?

Gardner's fault.

What's your thing with him anyway.

Gardner's a [censored] and was only ever halfway into the job - could not even roll up to the first game of the year - but no-one's even talking about him so get off it.

I saw Gardner at Beach Oval a couple of weeks back. Looked just as dopey close up with his two mates (were you one of the hangers on btw?) as he did at the club but I did not think for a second of dumping on him.

No-one cares about him any more. You are seriously weird.

Edited June 17, 201312 yr by pitmaster

AFL.com are doing the LIVE feed once again. Lucky us,

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-17/live-neeld-sacked

Story,

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-17/neeld-out

Edited June 17, 201312 yr by alias275

Neeld will be happy - $600k payout and no more pressure & sleepless nights to get the most out of this playing list. He will probably move interstate and become an assistant coach again somewhere.

We had to do it now to give us 3 months of talks about needing a new coach, giving us the best chance of landing a good experienced coach (Rodney Eade most likely).

Craig is statistically a far better coach than Neeld will be interesting to see how he goes.

Neeld won't be happy - let's not try and convince ourselves that this is a win win for everyone. It might be a weight off stress wise, but he's now unemployed, and, and the thought that he's failed in his one shot at success at the highest level will burn. I really do feel for him, but that's not to say I don't think it's the right decision.

I can't believe anyone can seriously complain about this decision. We are a complete joke on and off the field and have gone backwards at a frightening rate since Neeld started.

This had to happen and it had happen before there was any further damage.

We have two winnable games coming up. The timing is right. We could have sacked him at year's end and still been without a coach for a time period. This allows us to hunt for a new coach without added complications and without doing so behind the current coach's back. It will ensure we can hit the ground running from day one of off season, especially in terms of list management.

Like your thinking Jaded.

Had to be done.

Now, watch the media turn - They've all been calling for Neeld's head, now that he's gone, they'll say it's just a cop-out for Melbourne's average playing group.

Almost can guarantee that. This sort of thing is what turns me away from wanting to be a journalist.....

Don't be so easily dissuaded, they are not journalists.

AFL.com are doing the LIVE feed once again. Lucky us,

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-17/live-neeld-sacked

Y9ou would think we would be used to these by now alias

A part of me is sad and depressed it didn't work out and he didn't do what he said, that we wasted nearly 2 years... But the relief and the excitement of change far outweighs it right now.

The funny thing is I don't think the two years are necessarily wasted.

Drafting decisions made under Neeld are likely to stand the test of time: Hogan, M Jones, Terlich, maybe Barry; and the fitness regime he instituted will hopefully be maintained and built upon.

Compare this with the last two years of Daniher - and yes, I was a fan but he stayed too long.

yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I havnt been this happy since, since, since......... Well I don't think I have ever been this happy.

You have to feel for Neeld personally as being a sacked Coach is about the most public and brutal way to lose your job anyone gets, aside from a politician at the ballot box.

That said, the move undoubtedly had to be made. We've gone backwards so dramatically in the last 18 months, and as Senior Coach Neeld has to take the responsibility for that.

Craig as interim coach makes sense as it means the Assistant Coaches don't have to change their roles, there's just a different person in charge at the top. I would doubt that Craig is going to be in the running for the job and that when Choco/Rocket/whoever get the job, Craig will leave the club, even though he's got a year left on his contract.

AS far as I can see Craig has added zero to the club

Gee I hope we dont pay him too much like all the others

Whats the use of sacking Neeld now Much better to do in a structured way

More MFC incompetence gees it is hard to follow this club

I can't believe anyone can seriously complain about this decision. We are a complete joke on and off the field and have gone backwards at a frightening rate since Neeld started.

This had to happen and it had happen before there was any further damage.

We have two winnable games coming up. The timing is right. We could have sacked him at year's end and still been without a coach for a time period. This allows us to hunt for a new coach without added complications and without doing so behind the current coach's back. It will ensure we can hit the ground running from day one of off season, especially in terms of list management.

Do you seriously believe that we will win those games simply because Neeld has been shown the door? I seriously hope I'm wrong, but I get the feeling that this season from hell will continue unabated.

Sack Craig

Time for a new thread

If you're interested, the press conference can be seen on the HUN's site here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-coach-mark-neeld-has-been-sacked-replaced-by-senior-assistant-neil-craig/story-fni5f91a-1226664862230

It must be great getting a job at Melbourne

You get paid every week

You dont have to perform

You aren't held accountable

AND you get paid to go

Fantastic

And what is the point of having Craig in charge. The whole coaching panel needs to be shown the door.

And WHO would you [censored] replace them with ??? Great numbskull decision that would be... !!!!! At least Craig is "proven" at the level...

f true, this does concern me a little as having declared him safe for the time being just the other week, and with no games having been played since, to do a U turn like this? What kind of message is this sending to the playing group, and particularly those in the pro-Neeld camp?

I agree I think it's pretty poor really - I wonder what Neeld was told after the board meeting a fortnight ago.

Neeld's position is the same as a staff member who has the flu. Out of the building please.

No coach has had as much grief to handle as Mark over the 18 months. Regardless of how u credit him he has been SUPER UNLUCKY.

Craig is only the interim coach.

The AFL may be twisting Roos arm as we ponder & its [officially] open opportunity to all contenders from today.

Darkest before the Dawn!!!!!!

Edited June 17, 201312 yr by Nineteen

Hahaha! People saying this is a knee jerk reaction.

The team has not improved since Round 1 2012.

Now we find real coaches.

yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I havnt been this happy since, since, since......... Well I don't think I have ever been this happy.

You must have had a lot of sadness in your life T!

AS far as I can see Craig has added zero to the club

Gee I hope we dont pay him too much like all the others

Whats the use of sacking Neeld now Much better to do in a structured way

More MFC incompetence gees it is hard to follow this club

Well Follow another club... It's a Football Club , for F... Sake.. Hard is it ??? If that's what you call hard.. the rest of your life must be easy.. !!!