The impact that Fitzpatrick has had in our forward line and the opportunity he has been given by Craig says a lot about the incompetence of Neeld IMO

No way you would trade Fitzpatrick after seeing what he can do and the upside he could bring to the team in the future

How many more do we have that Craig through some much needed encouragement can be pried from Neelds tightly shut closet

Taggert your next

Article about Fitz on the AFL website here.

Rising Demon Fitzpatrick pays tribute to Neil Craig

MELBOURNE forward Jack Fitzpatrick credits Neil Craig for making him believe he belongs at the top level.

The 22-year-old was seemingly in the football wilderness at the start of this season, unable to earn senior selection under then coach Mark Neeld despite consistently strong performances in the VFL.

...

Fitzpatrick has fought back from diversity from a young age. He was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome when he was just five years old and just last year found out he was a diabetic.

"Fitzpatrick has fought back from diversity from a young age."

Damn that diversity and such...

"Fitzpatrick has fought back from diversity from a young age."

Damn that diversity and such...

Played at Western Jets with Majak Daw didn't he? I thought they got along pretty well.

These are hard times to be a White male in Australia

Please note, despite what these hacks that do no research say, Fitzy did not have a good start to the year, nor a first strong 9 rounds.

He missed the bulk of the first month, got into the Casey firsts, did well and got better and earned his promotion.

So much of the criticism of Neeld has been understandable, with Fitzy this year, I would have promoted him a week or two earlier as am an unabashed fan, but can't see what Neeld has done wrong by him this year.

Please note, despite what these hacks that do no research say, Fitzy did not have a good start to the year, nor a first strong 9 rounds.

He missed the bulk of the first month, got into the Casey firsts, did well and got better and earned his promotion.

So much of the criticism of Neeld has been understandable, with Fitzy this year, I would have promoted him a week or two earlier as am an unabashed fan, but can't see what Neeld has done wrong by him this year.

Yep was going to post this myself but sometimes people never listen anyway. The only thing you missed out was for a period there Maxy Gawn was doing well playing predominantly forward as well so it's not like Fitzy didn't have competition. It all worked out nicely that he could come in and contribute as well as hold his spot and at the same time Gawn could reach match fitness after his own injury interruptions and also hold his spot in the ruck.

If Neeld did something wrong it wasn't not playing him. But he might have provided Fitzy with no confidence he was ready to take a step up where Craig obviously has.

Played at Western Jets with Majak Daw didn't he? I thought they got along pretty well.

These are hard times to be a White male in Australia

The impact that Fitzpatrick has had in our forward line and the opportunity he has been given by Craig says a lot about the incompetence of Neeld IMO

No way you would trade Fitzpatrick after seeing what he can do and the upside he could bring to the team in the future

How many more do we have that Craig through some much needed encouragement can be pried from Neelds tightly shut closet

Taggert your next

It's not hard to read between the lines, I've said before that Neeld had stamped fitzies papers. He was wrong as he was with many things. The players aren't saying what they think but Neeld was a cancer that had to be cut out and thanks to Peter Jackskon it has. He was a bully that didn't develop players rather he chose on many occasions to humiliate them. Now the players can breath . I think next year will bring huge improvement and don't be surprised if the whole group would want Craig to be their coach.

"Fitzpatrick has fought back from diversity from a young age."

Damn that diversity and such...

Just read that heart-warming article.

Classic.

What a struggle it is and continues to be.

But Neeld was the coach who promoted jack to the Melbourne side.

How does that support the feeling that Neeld stamped his papers?

We are seriously re writing history now...

But Neeld was the coach who promoted jack to the Melbourne side.

How does that support the feeling that Neeld stamped his papers?

We are seriously re writing history now...

When Mark Neeld became our senior coach, in my mind everything became Dean Bailey's fault. Now that Mark Neeld is gone, I see people making exactly the same mistake.

But Neeld was the coach who promoted jack to the Melbourne side.

How does that support the feeling that Neeld stamped his papers?

We are seriously re writing history now...

Agreed. He was brought back into the side in eitherNeelds second last or final game.

I'm not one to stick up for Neeld as he was a terrible senior coach but you can't ignore facts.

Edited July 25, 201312 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

Yep was going to post this myself but sometimes people never listen anyway. The only thing you missed out was for a period there Maxy Gawn was doing well playing predominantly forward as well so it's not like Fitzy didn't have competition. It all worked out nicely that he could come in and contribute as well as hold his spot and at the same time Gawn could reach match fitness after his own injury interruptions and also hold his spot in the ruck.

If Neeld did something wrong it wasn't not playing him. But he might have provided Fitzy with no confidence he was ready to take a step up where Craig obviously has.

Yep, & some say we don't want too many rucks/talls on our list re opportunities, but I say competition for a position is a good thing.

It's not hard to read between the lines, I've said before that Neeld had stamped fitzies papers. He was wrong as he was with many things. The players aren't saying what they think but Neeld was a cancer that had to be cut out and thanks to Peter Jackskon it has. He was a bully that didn't develop players rather he chose on many occasions to humiliate them. Now the players can breath . I think next year will bring huge improvement and don't be surprised if the whole group would want Craig to be their coach.

Fact, opinion or hearsay?