Neil Craig

[frankie_d 1,410]

Like everyone here, I am sick of talk -

Some things that I did like -

• need to improve our game day performance
• need to provide an environment where players want to stay and develop
• no "sooking" about the loss of MN - at this level of football it's about performance
• effort of the players has been up and down
• told various journalists to shut up and listen
• using facilities at tennis australia for training!!! (personal relationship with high performance manager there)
• no comment on ASADA - wait for the facts
• didn't bag MN (just as you would expect)
• "underperformance is a waste" and the biggest challenge is inconsistency
• some positives - I got the impression that he thinks they can play
• the most important issue for the MFC is what type of coach are they looking for

Might not want him for the long term, but he's clearly a grown up...and I think we are lucky to have him step in.

But again, all words - lets wait for the Aints on the weekend

[Scipio 5,868]

I'm thinking we'll see a more free and creative team. I'm hoping the players will feel as though a weight has been lifted with Neeldy gone and will play so.

[rjay 23,970]

I like that he has kind of thrown his hat in the ring for the coaching job. He may or may not be serious about it but at least the players won't think they have a lame duck coach which we all saw under Todd was not a good thing.

[Cheap Seats 3,303]

I'm thinking we'll see a more free and creative team. I'm hoping the players will feel as though a weight has been lifted with Neeldy gone and will play so.

Sorry Django but that is way off the mark

Craig was well know at Adelaide for his payers being robots - or Crowbots.

(Not saying you personally) But if you disliked Neeld you will dislike Craig

[Akum 2,660]

Sorry Django but that is way off the mark

Craig was well know at Adelaide for his payers being robots - or Crowbots.

(Not saying you personally) But if you disliked Neeld you will dislike Craig

Probably true ... unless he's learned from his past shortcomings.

[monoccular 16,297]

As I mentioned on another post, I hope all true Demon supporters get right behind Craig and the team for the rest of the year.

GO DEES

[Nasher 33,133]

Sorry Django but that is way off the mark

Craig was well know at Adelaide for his payers being robots - or Crowbots.

(Not saying you personally) But if you disliked Neeld you will dislike Craig

Must have been horrible, watching robots win games regularly.

[rpfc 27,591]

I like that he has kind of thrown his hat in the ring for the coaching job. He may or may not be serious about it but at least the players won't think they have a lame duck coach which we all saw under Todd was not a good thing.

While I agree it helps a little bit, I expect that there will be a period of pointless games with players not turning up mentally as they know that none of the coaches will be back next year. Although Craig is contracted for next year...

What a waste if we have to pay him out.

[BrisbaneDemon 1,501]

I have to admit it was quite refreshing watching his presser tho, no offence to Neeld but every presser was exactly the same. Im not getting my hopes up but i am very intrigued to see what game day changes and player position changes NC will make. Bring on Saturday I'm excited for footy again! (could be over again after the weekend tho haha)

[What 18,810]

Sorry Django but that is way off the mark

Craig was well know at Adelaide for his payers being robots - or Crowbots.

(Not saying you personally) But if you disliked Neeld you will dislike Craig

yeah those poor Crow fans, having to see their robotic team win every week and make the top 4

[dazzledavey36 49,049]

Please lets just get behind craigy.. From what I heard the player actually love him and see him as a mentor father figure. I don't know if anyone saw but what I was really happy to see was against hawthorn Dean Kent kicked a goal went to the bench and Craigy gave him the biggest pat on the head like a proud father to his child and I thought that was really encouraging. I never once saw Neeld do that at all. I still reckon we should hang on to him whoever becomes our new coach. PJ even said that NG was one of our most experience people in the football department so I cant see why they would try and move him on.

[Sir Why You Little 34,717]

I hope Craig and Misson are retained next year.

Nothing wrong with the backbone.

[Demon Dynasty 15,796]

Sorry Django but that is way off the mark

Craig was well know at Adelaide for his payers being robots - or Crowbots.

(Not saying you personally) But if you disliked Neeld you will dislike Craig

Dangerfield is one that would disagree with you.....

http://<iframe class="fiveaa-video-player" type="text/html" width="615" height="385" src="http://www.fiveaa.com.au/embed/video.aspx?id=112575" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Edited June 18, 2013 by Rusty Nails

[Demon Dynasty 15,796]

I'm not that concerned what Craig does or how he conducts himself with the players. The results will be there for all to judge in the team's performance on the field on game day.

I'm willing to cut him some slack over the next 4 to 5 weeks while he settles in. After that we should start to expect some decent improvement and even a few wins. If we get something happening straight up and a nice surprise before he settles it'll be a bonus for me.

I also don't expect massive hammerings against mediocre or lowly rated clubs such as those suffered under MN either.

[Demon Dynasty 15,796]

Please lets just get behind craigy.. From what I heard the player actually love him and see him as a mentor father figure. I don't know if anyone saw but what I was really happy to see was against hawthorn Dean Kent kicked a goal went to the bench and Craigy gave him the biggest pat on the head like a proud father to his child and I thought that was really encouraging. I never once saw Neeld do that at all. I still reckon we should hang on to him whoever becomes our new coach. PJ even said that NG was one of our most experience people in the football department so I cant see why they would try and move him on.

Source Dazzle? I suspect this as well but i'll believe it when i see it. If they start playing for him pretty much from the get go then who knows..... he might put a pretty good case forward for hanging on to a significant role for the long term at the MFC, possibly even as coach next year! And before Soxy or whoever his name is (et al) start jumping down my throat, i'm not saying he's my preferred option for coach either. Just saying he might end up being hard to overlook depending on what happens from here.

P.S. For those interested he has a better winning % in regular home and away (56.7%) than Williams (56%), Eade (55.6%), Ayres (55.2%) and Ratten (51.3%). Better than Worsfold as well but i haven't included him here as he ruled himself out of the race today.

Edit: Spelling

Edited June 18, 2013 by Rusty Nails

[Swampfox 190]

Being a Norwood supporter as long as i have been a Demon i do remember Craig the player and was not happy when he left to join another SANFL team

He was tough as nails and was a favorite

I often wondered how well he would go in the VFL and do remember Footscray trying to recruit him

Like a lot of crow eaters he never made the journey

Craig the coach IMO is unfairly perceived by most Victorians

I do think there are better coaches out there but there is no doubt he does coach well

His ability to get players fit is second to none

He speaks eloquently and you saw that in his press conference today

Lots of knowledge and experience is good for us right at the moment

I doubt he will get enough points on the board in the 11 remaining matches to give him the edge when the board selects our next coach

Edited June 18, 2013 by Swampfox

[Scipio 5,868]

Sorry Django but that is way off the mark

Craig was well know at Adelaide for his payers being robots - or Crowbots.

(Not saying you personally) But if you disliked Neeld you will dislike Craig

I mean more in a mental sense, the players clearly weren't playing for Neeld.

Anyway as long as we win I'm happy.

[Standing Room Only 27]

Now I'm not here to say appoint the man, far from it.

What I would like to say is that after just watching his presso he is very well spoken & very respectful of all around him. The things he had to say made a lot of sense.

Whether he coaches for 11 weeks or 11 years I guess we'll soon see.

Edited June 18, 2013 by Standing Room Only

[titan_uranus 22,673]

I don't know if anyone saw but what I was really happy to see was against hawthorn Dean Kent kicked a goal went to the bench and Craigy gave him the biggest pat on the head like a proud father to his child and I thought that was really encouraging. I never once saw Neeld do that at all.

Maybe that's because Neeld almost never coached from the bench?

I'm with you though in that I think Craig is a good influence on our players.

[Shmity29 61]

Apparently he was on AFL 360 tonight.. did anyone happen to catch it?

[rjay 23,970]

Pretty much said the same things as in his presser, virtually word for word in some instances.

[Gorgoroth 12,337]

Pretty much said similar stuff to his press conference today.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Pretty much said the same things as in his presser, virtually word for word in some instances.

[ThreeOneSix 953]

Now I'm not here to say appoint the man, far from it.

What I would like to say is that after just watching his presso he is very well spoken & very respectful of all around him. The things he had to say made a lot of sense.

Whether he coaches for 11 weeks or 11 years I guess we'll soon see.

Craig won't be coaching MFC next year but I still think he is very important for us going forward.

[Sir Why You Little 34,717]

We should keep him at the MFC in some role.

He has so much experience.