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Melbourne’s AFL players have been challenged on all levels by new coach Mark Neeld – and it’s a good thing, according to ruckman Mark Jamar.
Neeld’s inheritance of the underperforming Demons has come amid tough public pronouncements and promises of a harder edge to the team in 2012.
And Neeld is fronting every player one-on-one during pre-season training, making it clear what he expects on an individual and team level.
“He’s straight to the point, you know exactly where you stand,” Jamar said of his recent face-to-face meeting with ex-Collingwood assistant Neeld.
“We’ve all been challenged, and that’s all part of footy. I think that’s good, it’s good for every single person to be challenged – then you don’t get comfortable.”
Jamar, 28, has been told to work on his leadership, and aspects of his ruck work.
But as a team, the message from Neeld has been to improve the Demons’ defence – an area much criticised under predecessor Dean Bailey.
“If you defend teams really well, it makes it hard for them to score and obviously it makes it hard for them to play,” Jamar said.
“That’s probably where we’ll focus on.
“Everyone individually has to have that defensive focus for the whole team defence to work.”
Jamar, who has blossomed into one of the game’s best ruckmen from humble beginnings at the Demons, is set for a huge boost in 2012 with the recruitment of ex-Brisbane ruck-forward Mitch Clark.
It will give Melbourne the combination of A-grade ruckman and quality pinch-hitter the AFL’s best teams have, and Jamar some much-needed relief when required.
“It might mean I can rotate forward a little more often … he (Clark) is a great addition to our club and it’s going to be really good for us,” Jamar said.
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