Jump to content

  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    The Demonland Terms of Service, which you have all recently agreed to, strictly prohibit discussions of ongoing legal matters, whether criminal or civil. Please ensure that all discussions on this forum remain focused solely on on-field & football related topics.


Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)
24 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Did he give any indication he might go to another club like Richmond or Hawthorn for a season?

An interesting proposition - could Neeld be appointed to top clubs in a senior football capacity as an equalisation measure of sorts? 

Edited by chookrat
Spelling mistake
  • Like 5
  • Haha 4

Posted
21 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Don't spend too much time sitting on the toilet Biff. You might be tempting fate if you share certain traits with one Aaron Elvis Presley.

my wife will take umbrage with your comments when she gets home from cheerleading practise.

Posted (edited)
19 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Bang!

Open Mike with Mark Neeld

Ironic. The club's downfall in the early part of the decade started before Neeld arrived, when Green was captain and led a player protest on the way to a 200 point loss.

Neeld wasn't the caused of our problems. He was a symptom. So was Green in the twilight of his career.

Neeld at least is diplomatic albeit dismissive of accountability. It wasn't Neeld's fault that Bailey was sacked. Or that the club was in the position it was in when he arrived.

But sure, Brad. Whatever you say.

And yeah I am sympathetic of Neeld's plight. People forget our first year with Roos was also garbage. Neeld inherited a club and team on its deathbed. 

Edited by praha
  • Like 7
Posted
12 minutes ago, praha said:

And yeah I am sympathetic of Neeld's plight. People forget our first year with Roos was also garbage. Neeld inherited a club and team on its deathbed.  

Yes I tend to agree, I don't think we realise how bad the list was before Neeld arrived. Having said that he was never the right man for the job and those that appointed him should also be accountable. If not for Roosy I dare say we would still be in this position.

 

Posted

That was the worst Open Mike ever.

Neeld couldn’t even describe his role at Essendon but reading between the lines he managed to upset all of the line coaches and game analysts enough that his good mate Woosha couldn’t save him.

Just a load of rambling nonsense.

  • Like 9
  • Love 1
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Hearing his side of the story, it seems like a lot of the direction was given to him by higher powers. Lyon, McLardy and Schwab hatched one of the worst plans in footballing history.

Also, he believed the players basically voted in Grimes and Trengove.

No Jack Watts questions.

 

1 hour ago, Jaded said:

Yep. Those three should be ashamed of themselves. Making decisions they had no business making. Ripping the heart of the club. Banishing senior players. Then completely effing up every draft pick. Disgraceful. 

Three blind monkeys. 

 

Lots of things we can pot Neeld for,  he did an awful job. It is worth putting that aweful performance in context with the following events that were outside of his control:

- We were on the back of 186 and our complete implosion on and off field;

- It became quickly apparent that preseason how far behind the competition we we're when it was exposed that our list doesn't meet the minimum fitness requirements of the "in vogue" game plan of the time (Collingwood);

- Immediately prior to the season our president and club legend retired then died;

- Our 2011 leading goal kicker attacked someone with a machette and only played one game;

- We had spent big to bring in Mitch Clarke who busted early with injury;

- We had off field issues with sponsors and the tanking investigation. 

 

In his defense, and this is difficult, but we had a rubbish culture where tail wagged dog. I'd be surprised if anyone truly thinks we were on the right track after 186, after the canceled time trials etc.

It was so clear at the time that our "senior" players had no leadership abilities and were not setting standards. Jones wasn't yet a leader, Green was an unsuccessful leader,  and Moloney - as much as I enjoyed him when on song - was a selfish player who from reporters actively worked against the coach and was a big part of 186.

At the time Neeld needed to rebuild the club culture from within,  and I have no doubt that Grimes and Trengove were the best "leaders" on the list. The players and support staff were asked rate all players on a number of leadership qualities and they voted those two by such a margin it was fait accompli. I agree they were too young but Neeld took a risk to try and salvage something; If Trenners didn't get injured it may have worked out. 

A similar analysis:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/how-the-demons-blundered-on-young-cocaptains-20141202-11yq5n.html

 

Neelds tenure was a horrible, torrid and unsuccessful time. But his legacy is that he cut out the rot from our playing list in the brutal manner that was needed to allow us to start to grow our culture from scratch, without it constantly being tainted by the previous generation. A bit like a heavy pruning of the garden that leaves it bare and ugly, but allows it to regrow.

Edited by deanox
  • Like 13
Posted
32 minutes ago, McQueen said:

That was the worst Open Mike ever.

Neeld couldn’t even describe his role at Essendon but reading between the lines he managed to upset all of the line coaches and game analysts enough that his good mate Woosha couldn’t save him.

Just a load of rambling nonsense.

He left Geelong because he had kids really young

?

To sum up - nothing was his fault and to echo Steve above, rambling rubbish.

  • Like 2
Posted

Also leadership group in 2011:

Brad Green, Aaron Davey, Jared Rivers and Brent Moloney 

In 2012:

Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes, Clint Bartram, Mitch Clark, James Frawley, Colin Garland, Mark Jamar and Nathan Jones.

  • Like 1
Posted
6 minutes ago, deanox said:

 

 

Lots of things we can pot Neeld for,  he did an awful job. It is worth putting that aweful performance in context with the following events that were outside of his control:

- We were on the back of 186 and our complete implosion on and off field;

- It became quickly apparent that preseason how far behind the competition we we're when it was exposed that our list doesn't meet the minimum fitness requirements of the "in vogue" game plan of the time (Collingwood);

- Immediately prior to the season our president and club legend retired then died;

- Our 2011 leading goal kicker attacked someone with a machette and only played one game;

- We had spent big to bring in Mitch Clarke who busted early with injury;

- We had off field issues with sponsors and the tanking investigation. 

 

In his defense, and this is difficult, but we had a rubbish culture where tail wagged dog. I'd be surprised if anyone truly thinks we were on the right track after 186, after the canceled time trials etc.

It was so clear at the time that our "senior" players had no leadership abilities and were not setting standards. Jones wasn't yet a leader, Green was an unsuccessful leader,  and Moloney - as much as I enjoyed him when on song - was a selfish player who from reporters actively worked against the coach and was a big part of 186.

At the time Neeld needed to rebuild the club culture from within,  and I have no doubt that Grimes and Trengove were the best "leaders" on the list. The players and support staff were asked rate all players on a number of leadership qualities and they voted those two by such a margin it was fait accompli. I agree they were too young but Neeld took a risk to try and salvage something; f Trenners didn't get injured it may have worked out. 

 

Neelds tenure was a horrible, torrid and unsuccessful time. But his legacy is that he cut out the rot from our playing list in the brutal manner that was needed to allow us to start to grow our culture from scratch, without it constantly being tainted by the previous generation. A bit like a heavy pruning of the garden that leaves it bare and ugly, but allows it to regrow.

100%. He acknowledged and said of a lot of the harsh truths that many didn't want to hear. When Roos said a more refined and diplomatic version of the same thing 12 months later we all followed him and nodded in agreement like as if Neeld had somehow put us in the mess we were in. 

There was really nothing wrong with Neeld's vision. Schoolboys like Green couldn't hack it. The problem was the execution and Neeld just being a terrible coach.

  • Like 3
Posted
3 minutes ago, praha said:

100%. He acknowledged and said of a lot of the harsh truths that many didn't want to hear. When Roos said a more refined and diplomatic version of the same thing 12 months later we all followed him and nodded in agreement like as if Neeld had somehow put us in the mess we were in. 

There was really nothing wrong with Neeld's vision. Schoolboys like Green couldn't hack it. The problem was the execution and Neeld just being a terrible coach.

I'd elaborate by saying after Neeld did the hard stuff someone had to do (even Green said that in an interview in early 2012, about how Neeld was ruthless, making the group work harder than ever before and direct in his appraisals), Roos had the "easier" job of repairing and rebuilding trust,  and developing a culture relatively free of toxic influences. 

Roos could be more diplomatic because the time for hard words was over. 

 

I say all this in complete agreement that overall, Neeld had terrible execution and was a terrible coach. 

  • Like 3
Posted
2 hours ago, Jaded said:

Seems unaffected by it all. At the end of the day he has a wife and kids and he is a person. I wish him well, so long as he stays the hell away from my club. 

Na.. Bugger him. If was that bad at my job. I wouldnt of been able to get another one in the same industry again.

  • Like 2
Posted
16 minutes ago, praha said:

100%. He acknowledged and said of a lot of the harsh truths that many didn't want to hear. When Roos said a more refined and diplomatic version of the same thing 12 months later we all followed him and nodded in agreement like as if Neeld had somehow put us in the mess we were in. 

There was really nothing wrong with Neeld's vision. Schoolboys like Green couldn't hack it. The problem was the execution and Neeld just being a terrible coach.

I know the board was in ruins and the 180 point loss was diabolical. But he inherited a list that had managed to win 8.5 games the two previous years, that was renown for being able to rebound of the half backline just as good as any, all be it mainly against mid tier and lower sides. He had a base to build on not completely rip the soul out of.

He made Green start as a SUB!

Told our reigning BnF and best midfielder to basically F off ( i know moloney had issues)

Recruited the worst players from Geelong.

He imploded from rd1 and developed a twitch.

Im not sure if you remember. But the training sessions I went to at Casey, he would sit in the coaches box up the top and just watch. He had a room for players to come into to talk footy and a room to come in and not talk footy.

This guy was a complete looney.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted
On 9/3/2018 at 12:02 PM, Baghdad Bob said:

I'm not defending Neeld, I didn't like him from his first presser when appointed but it's never just one man.  The whole club was toxic and divided and the list was terrible.  He put the explanation mark on a terrible period.  

Nobody at the Club intended to hurt it, they were just out of their depth.  I'll watch with interest, it's part of our history and just highlights the strides we've made and the wonderful contributions of all involved since PJ was appointed.

But IMO it's time to put the knives away for the Stynes/McLardy era and enjoy our growth both on and off the field.

He was at the beginning of the rebirth.

He had the job of pulling the big craap wall down.  Like him, or Loathe him... he did it, and he started the regrowth...  by crushing the bad old habits.

He pulled the rug from under some very very cosy attitudes, inside our club.

Wattshisname rebelled, after having things on his terms for 3 years.  As did others. 

Neeld rid us off those who were damaged and sour...  some remained. 

Who here really thinks Watts was cursed by Neeld, or was it the other way around ?   the culture, Pre Neeld ?

 

Who here remembers the rumours coming out of AAMI park back then,,, supposedly from the mouths of Melbourne Storm players... about our habits in the GYM and our training methods.   Not Neeld's habits.

 

He smashed those things... and allowed a Fresh Sweep of the floor... 

which allowed Roosy to come thru, amongst The Renovators.  PJ the AFL, and associated assistants.

 

.

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, praha said:

Ironic. The club's downfall in the early part of the decade started before Neeld arrived, when Green was captain and led a player protest on the way to a 200 point loss.

Neeld wasn't the caused of our problems. He was a symptom. So was Green in the twilight of his career.

Neeld at least is diplomatic albeit dismissive of accountability. It wasn't Neeld's fault that Bailey was sacked. Or that the club was in the position it was in when he arrived.

But sure, Brad. Whatever you say.

And yeah I am sympathetic of Neeld's plight. People forget our first year with Roos was also garbage. Neeld inherited a club and team on its deathbed. 

He inherited a  'Humpty-Dumpty'  on the wall.  Had the guts to crack it with a spoon...

 

Then got the all the kings hoses and all the kings men, to scrape up the debris;  and build a new one.  a New Millennia Demons.

Posted
24 minutes ago, deanox said:

I'd elaborate by saying after Neeld did the hard stuff someone had to do (even Green said that in an interview in early 2012, about how Neeld was ruthless, making the group work harder than ever before and direct in his appraisals), Roos had the "easier" job of repairing and rebuilding trust,  and developing a culture relatively free of toxic influences. 

Roos could be more diplomatic because the time for hard words was over. 

  

I say all this in complete agreement that overall, Neeld had terrible execution and was a terrible coach. 

Can't agree with this 'deanox'.

In his first few years Roos turned over most of our list. He inherited a disaster.

It wasn't repairing, it was a total club rebuild with Jackson at the helm.

The blame has to be shared for the mess, no doubt.

Neeld played his part but die was cast well before he arrived.

  • Like 8
Posted

Neeld was a joke completely destroyed the club Roos had to re build. He takes 50% of the blame Bailey takes the other 50% both woeful coaches thanks Garry Lyon for your input. NEVER AGAIN.

Posted
4 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Neeld was a joke completely destroyed the club Roos had to re build. He takes 50% of the blame Bailey takes the other 50% both woeful coaches thanks Garry Lyon for your input. NEVER AGAIN.

No 'WERRIDEE', not even close.

The totally incompetent board we had at the time should take most of the blame.

The board that was responsible for the CEO, allowed Lyon to be coopted to a role he had no experience in and didn't take the hard decisions when Jimmy was ailing among other things. The same board that appointed Neeld.

  • Like 8
Posted

That was just so underwhelming.  There was just no substance or depth to any of the questions or answers and I don’t think there was anything there that wasn’t already public knowledge.

Something that surprised me was that when asked what he’d do differently, he replied he’d investigate, question and challenge the club’s decision to move on senior player at the end of 2011.  He often referred to how young the list was that he inherited and lay the blame at the feet of the admin.  At the end of 2011, we delisted or traded out:

Matthew Warnock

Addam Maric

McNamara (rookie)

and Cameron Johnston (rookie)

Where is this mass culling of senior players that he referred to numerous times throughout the interview???

He then claimed that we brought in a significant number of young players for his first year, but in fact we brought in:

Mitch Clark (mature)

James Magner (mature)

James Sellar (mature)

Leigh Williams (mature)

 

He claimed that he went for all out youth and knew it would be a long, slow rebuild as a consequence, but that does nothing to explain the following preseason bringing in:

Rodan

Byrnes

Dawes

Pedersen

Gillies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 11
Posted
20 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

That was just so underwhelming.  There was just no substance or depth to any of the questions or answers and I don’t think there was anything there that wasn’t already public knowledge.

Something that surprised me was that when asked what he’d do differently, he replied he’d investigate, question and challenge the club’s decision to move on senior player at the end of 2011.  He often referred to how young the list was that he inherited and lay the blame at the feet of the admin.  At the end of 2011, we delisted or traded out:

Matthew Warnock

Addam Maric

McNamara (rookie)

and Cameron Johnston (rookie)

Where is this mass culling of senior players that he referred to numerous times throughout the interview???

He then claimed that we brought in a significant number of young players for his first year, but in fact we brought in:

Mitch Clark (mature)

James Magner (mature)

James Sellar (mature)

Leigh Williams (mature)

 

He claimed that he went for all out youth and knew it would be a long, slow rebuild as a consequence, but that does nothing to explain the following preseason bringing in:

Rodan

Byrnes

Dawes

Pedersen

Gillies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the bloke is either a compulsive liar or just brainless 

  • Like 1
Posted
26 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Neeld was a joke completely destroyed the club Roos had to re build. He takes 50% of the blame Bailey takes the other 50% both woeful coaches thanks Garry Lyon for your input. NEVER AGAIN.

The club was already destroyed, Pre Neeld...   a ruddy mess, Pre Bailey.  

Full of big-head fish in a tiny pond.  with no real work ethic or true professional attitudes.   We again thought, we were way better, than what we were.

Tried to rebuild with old boys, and made things worse.

 

Pointing fingers of blame, is only doing more of the same,,, of that which was happening with the players at the time, before Neeld was even a thought.

He crushed what was rotten and allowed a cleanup.

 

To replace a foul ingrown culture, you have to incise the wound, cut away all necrotic tissue.. and swab out the wound with saline &  anti-septic,  cover and seal.

Let healing begin.

Then look to grafts to cover the old wound area, if required.

Posted
1 hour ago, MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday said:

Na.. Bugger him. If was that bad at my job. I wouldnt of been able to get another one in the same industry again.

Now that is a silly statement, I have worked in the oil industry, where appalling workers just move between the companies 

I know one who did all 4

Neeld was on a hiding to nothing,  he tried, he failed, sadly attempting to rewrite history a bit, but he is not alone in doing that

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday said:

I know the board was in ruins and the 180 point loss was diabolical. But he inherited a list that had managed to win 8.5 games the two previous years, that was renown for being able to rebound of the half backline just as good as any, all be it mainly against mid tier and lower sides. He had a base to build on not completely rip the soul out of.

He made Green start as a SUB!

Told our reigning BnF and best midfielder to basically F off ( i know moloney had issues)

Recruited the worst players from Geelong.

He imploded from rd1 and developed a twitch.

Im not sure if you remember. But the training sessions I went to at Casey, he would sit in the coaches box up the top and just watch. He had a room for players to come into to talk footy and a room to come in and not talk footy.

This guy was a complete looney.

Granted but that same 8.5 win team lost by 186 points. and could barely get within 10 goals of any team above 10th on the ladder. He was a [censored] coach. No one doubted that. 

He also inherited a bunch of non-professionals who would joke around at training and throw up on each other on trips. 

This was a guy that had come from a Premiership winning Pies team, that had also played in a GF the year before and won 23 of 25 matches. He mentioned when he first arrived how had the training habits and approach to game day conditioning was. I think he saw a team that was so far off the line that he saw no option but to go to an absolute extreme. It may not have been the right decision, but he essentially went from driving a Ferrari to driving a Datsun.

Not trying to defend his mistakes, and it may not have gotten as bad had he never have come on, but all I'm saying is that it had already gone to [censored]. 

Edited by praha
  • Like 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    TRAINING: Monday 17th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were on hand at Monday morning's preseason training at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their brief observations of the session. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Gentle flush session at Gosch's this morning. Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars) McVee, McAdam. Rehabbing: Great to see Kentfield back (much slimmer), walking with Tholstrup, TMac (suspect just a management thing), Viney (still being cautious with that rib cartilage?), Melksham (

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    MATCH SIM: Friday 14th February 2025

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers made their way out to Casey Field's for the Melbourne Football Club's Family Series day to bring you their observations on the Match Simulation. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S MATCH SIMULATION OBSERVATIONS Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars), McVee, Windor, Kentfield, Mentha Present but not playing: Petracca, Viney, Spargo, Tholstrup, Melksham Starting Blue 18 (+ just 2 interchange): B: Petty, TMac, Lever, Howes, Bowey Salem M: Gawn, Oliver, La

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Wednesday 12th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers braved the scorching morning heat to bring you the following observations of Wednesday's preseason training session from Gosch's Paddock. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Absent: Salem, Windsor (word is a foot rash going around), Viney, Bowey and Kentfield Train ons: Roy George, no Culley today. Firstly the bad news - McVee went down late, which does look like a bad hammy - towards the end of match sim, as he kicked the ball. Had to

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    MATCH SIM: Friday 7th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatcher Gator ventured down the freeway to bring you his observations from Friday morning's Match Simulation out at Casey Fields. Rehab: Jake Lever and Charlie Spargo running laps.  Lever was running short distances at a fast click as well as having kick to kick with a trainer. He seems unimpeded. Christian Petracca, Kade Chandler, Shane McAdam and Tom Fullarton doing non-contact kicking and handball drills on the adjacent oval.  All moving freely at pace.  I didn’

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 5th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force as the Demons returned to Gosch's Paddock for preseason training on Wednesday morning. GHOSTWRITER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kozzie a no show. Tommy Sparrow was here last week in civvies and wearing sunnies. He didn’t train. Today he’s training but he’s wearing goggles so he’s likely got an eye injury. There’s a drill where Selwyn literally lies on top of Tracc, a trainer dribbles the ball towards them and Tracc has to g

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS: 2024

    Whichever way you look at it, the Melbourne Football Club’s 2024 season can only be characterized as the year of its fall from grace. Whispering Jack looks back at the season from hell that was. After its 2021 benchmark premiership triumph, the men’s team still managed top four finishes in the next two seasons but straight sets finals losses consigned them to sixth place in both years. The big fall came in 2024 with a collapse into the bottom six and a 14th placing. At Casey, the 2022 VFL p

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    MATCH SIM: Friday 31st January 2025

    Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Picket Fence ventured down to Casey Fields to bring you his observations from Friday's Match Simulation. Greetings Demonlanders, beautiful Day at training and the boys were hard at it, here is my report. NO SHOWS: Luker Kentfield (recovering from pneumonia in WA), also not sure I noticed Melky (Hamstring) or Will Verrall?? MODIFIED DUTIES (No Contact): Sparrow, McVee (foot), Tracc (ribs), Chandler, (AC Joint), Fullarton Noticeable events (I’ll s

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 29th January 2025

    A number of Demonland Trackwatchers swooped on Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from this morning's Preseason Training Session. DEMON JACK'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning at Gosch's Paddock. Very healthy crowd so far.  REHAB: Fullerton, Spargo, Tholstrup, McVee Viney running laps. EDIT: JV looks to be back with the main group. Trac, Sparrow, Chandler and Verrell also training away from the main group. Currently kicking to each other ins

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1

    TRAINING: Wednesday 22nd January 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force for training at Gosch's Paddock on Wednesday morning for the MFC's School Holidays Open Training Session. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS REHAB: TMac, Chandler, McVee, Tholstrup, Brown, Spargo Brown might have passed his fitness test as he’s back out with the main group.  Sparrow not present. Kozzy not present either.  Mini Rehab group has broken off from the match sim (contact) group: Max, Trac, Lever, Fullarton

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...