First Melbourne game I went to he kicked 8 and led us to an upset win over the blues in 1996. Was probably my favourite player before that as a kid but that day just cemented it for another 12 years. Champion player.

One of my favorite Neitz games was a more obscure one,  it was mid 2000 at Etihad vs the Lions and he had something like 30 possessions and 15 marks at centre half back.   He marked everything and just dominated , he was like a giant impenetrable wall across half back.

Not as sexy as those epic goal kicking games he had, but it was the perfect CHB game.

and jeez, didnt he suffer some horrific injuries along the way - cheekbones in WA, knees, hands, he may have nudged 400 games otherwise.

 

Great man and fantastic player, well deserved. So many great performances to pick from but one that sticks in my mind was a games against St Kilda where I think he kicked 8, and I think 4-5 of them were outside 50. 1 in particular was right on the boundary line in front of the members. 

Boy when he was on he was unstoppable!

2 hours ago, deefender said:

Once upon a time the main game at the MCG on a Saturday was preceded by the Under 19s, followed by the Reserves.

I saw David Neitz playing in the U 19s have a shot for goal outside 50 from the south east corner of the ground.

He landed the ball on top of the goal post.

Powerful!

He had a strange kicking style for someone who was able to kick as far as and as powerfully as he could.  He used to poke at the ball, rather than having a massive 'Darren Bennett' style follow-through.

Congrats David, love ya big guy.☺️

One of my favourite Neitz moments.

 

6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

One of my favourite Neitz moments.

 

Absolutely. He would probably have missed 3 weeks if it happened today.

1 hour ago, Danelska said:

and jeez, didnt he suffer some horrific injuries along the way - cheekbones in WA, knees, hands, he may have nudged 400 games otherwise.

Cant remember him ever having a knee injury, but I remember he broke his leg at princes Park, maybe 1998?

Does anyone remember the day he wanted to smash Robbo into the next millennium?

We were trying to get our season back on track playing against Freo from memory, Neitz was being man handled all day, couldn’t buy a free kick and Robbo decides to squirt Neita with water at three quarter time to cool him down. I remember that death stare to this day. 

Well done neita. It is a shame you couldn't grasp a premiership cup.

Watching Tim Smith have set shots at goal on Sunday for sum reason reminded me of Neitz and his bouncy run up. Might be just my memory playing tricks, but maybe someone has some video to compare the two?

Champion player, champion of the cluband champion bloke, just like our current skipper Jonsey, let’s hope he gets there one day too

I met him before the last Walk to G (MND) before the Collingwood game, got a selfie and he told me he had left the Hawks and was now doing some stuff around the club. Absolute gentleman. Onya Neita!!

Loved big Neita! The way.he would charge out of full forward and just crash into a pack was spine tingling stuff!

Those long bomb goals from 60m were epic!

19 hours ago, Danelska said:

and jeez, didnt he suffer some horrific injuries along the way - cheekbones in WA, knees, hands, he may have nudged 400 games otherwise.

Never done his knees that was the other David, in a interview he said many people ask about his knees, mistaking him with david Schwartz he did not miss many games at all, could have played 2 or 3 more year, he had a neck problem that end his career.

18 hours ago, The Reverend said:

Absolutely. He would probably have missed 3 weeks if it happened today.

No he would not get any hit him on shoulder not head was going for the ball at same time, you don't get weeks for that

2 hours ago, don't make me angry said:

Never done his knees that was the other David, in a interview he said many people ask about his knees, mistaking him with david Schwartz he did not miss many games at all, could have played 2 or 3 more year, he had a neck problem that end his career.

pretty certain he had a knee issue at some stage, not necessarily an acl - I'm well aware that it was Schwarz who did 3 - and remember distinctly crying in pre season when the news report came through of what happened at Lavington... although as I am from the Western District, I though "why the [censored] are they playing at Laverton"....