Only a week ago I posed the question, should Buddy Franklin remain at Hawthorn or head to the GWS Giants. Melbourne’s board, and Demons’ fans, are no doubt asking the same question right now about coach Mark Neeld.
And just like the Buddy scenario, everyone has an opinion, and there are pros and cons for both keeping Neeld in the job, and sacking him.
Patience may be a virtue, good things come to those who wait, success takes time, get the basics right and good times will follow – all very motivating and catchy lines, but ask Demons supporters about them.
Six wins from their past 40 matches, their last visit to the finals back in 2006, and since then not one winning season, and just 33 wins from 143 games.
Despite some obvious young talent, courtesy of high draft picks, it’s still difficult to see that flickering light at the end of the tunnel through the haze of losing.
So what do you do? Get rid of the coach is the easy option. He’s had over a year to get them going, hasn’t been able to yet, there’s no signs of things turning around in the immediate future, it’s the obvious decision to make. Isn’t it?
Wave bye bye to Neeld, despite tough financial times, open your purse strings as wide as you can, pay everything you can afford to bring in a high profile, proven coach to turn things around, and give him carte blanche (or again whatever you can afford) to achieve success?
Sounds good in theory, but attracting someone of that stature and coaching pedigree won’t be easy. Money is tight and unless paid substantially, why would a previously successful coach want to risk his reputation?
Another option, say farewell now to Mark, bring in another young, promising assistant from around the AFL, and let them have half a season to get things in place for 2014?
Or perhaps, give someone who has experienced coaching success elsewhere, Melbourne’s director of sports performance Neil Craig, a crack at the job.
Or maybe just leave Neeld in the job, and discreetly do interviews for his 2014 successor as the season moves on, finding the right man in plenty of time to let Neeld go at the season’s end.
All are options I suppose.
The bottom line is after so much losing, so much embarrassment, so many savage losses, and so much frustration, most Melbourne fans want to see something being done to change things.
If things remain as they are and no changes are made, then what can they expect? More losing, more embarrassment, and so on.
Most believe at the very least, Melbourne has to be seen to be doing something to turn things around.
But isn’t that what they have already done?
When he got the job at the end of 2011, Neeld put in place a plan that included overhauling the club’s playing list, changing training standards, improving leadership and developing a young team.
Isn’t that what he’s doing? Don’t those things take time? Shouldn’t he at the very least be given until the end of this season before deciding what should happen in 2014?
Sack him now, and won’t you be just bringing in a new coach to where Neeld was back in 2011?
Quite often when there is talk about a coach sacking, an underlying theme is tension between players and the coach, the players just don’t respond to that coach, or they won’t give their heart and soul for that particular coach.
None of those things seem to be bubbling over here.
It was interesting to hear captain Jack Grimes on SEN radio this week give an insight into what the players think.
“From the start, he (Neeld) always said to us that the game-day results will be the last thing we see,” Grimes said.
“For instance, the way we train – not to say the way we used to train was bad, or we were doing anything wrong – it’s just gone to a new level. We train like I’ve never trained before in my life. It’s just so much more intense, and so much more game-like.
“You can’t keep training and preparing the way we do, and keep getting the results that we are. We just have total faith in what we are doing. It will turn for us.
“I don’t think we’ve done it for long enough. We haven’t had this change for a long enough period for it to be so ingrained in us that it always comes out on game day. It’s unfair, the criticism that he (Neeld) cops.”
Sure a captain is going to stand by his coach I hear you saying, but what if Grimes is just calling it like it is, and he and his teammates do believe it will turn soon for them? What if the club keeps faith in Neeld, and he and his players do turn it around significantly by the season’s end?
Surely it’s worth waiting another 11 games at least to find out.
But ‘what ifs’ aren’t really want Demons fans want to hear right now. They just want to see that faint, flickering shining light down the tunnel.
Should the board stick or sack? I say stick.
If you like, line up your potential candidates to eventually move in if the downward spiral continues to the end of the season. But just think of the money saved, and what good guys and visionaries the board will all look like, if Neeld and his boys can start to swing things around.
langou
Roar Guru
The thing is Kev, they have had years to build there list and were on the way up when Neeld took over and have gone backwards ever since.
Steele
Guest
By saying that "to sack Neeld is going to take us back to 2011", is an indication itself that no improvements have been made under him. Which in actual fact isn't the truth. The demons have further declined. This is more than enough reason. Everybody says you can't blame the coach, the club is a rabble and so on and so forth. Miracles weren't expected, but incremental improvements are. The club were said to be after an experienced coach after the Bailey experiment. They then went on to hire another inexperienced coach. I believe they need someone older with the runs on the board. Mark Williams is a perfect fit for mine and if he's not available I'd look to Gary Ayres.
daniel p
Guest
+1
Matt P
Guest
+1
Connor
Roar Rookie
If the media left the poor bloke alone, he could actually get on with coaching our team. Although I do believe that the development staff must be held primarily responsible for our poor performance over the past few years.
handles
Guest
Well, something has to change. Wheterh we like it or not, Melbourne has had a priviliged draft position a number of times over the last 7 years. And yet we are not capable of generating the sort of exciting young talent that Geelong, for example, who have not had good draft picks, are doing. The big question for me is whether you would want your kid to be drafted by Melbourne currently. Is it poor drafting, or poor development? We seem to be taking in consensus low draft picks - Trengrove, Watts, Lucas Cook, Gysberts, Blease, Strauss, Bennell and others, and not getting A grade players out of them. Add Scully to that lot, and you have to suspect that there is nothing wrong with the player pool, it is something wrong with the environment or the development plans.
Kev
Guest
"While he might know his stuff, Melbourne cannot afford to wait until their young players have 50 games under their belt, and can turn in consistent performances week in week out. Melbourne need a coach who can inspire his (or her!) charges to play to their capability every week. Someone they want to do it for. Mark Neeld is not that someone, as nice a guy as he may be." So you want Melbourne's 18 and 19 year old players to be able to turn out consistent performances week in week out but you don't want to wait until they have 50 to 100 games under their belt? Dream on sunshine. This notion of an inspirational coach is stupid and unrealistic and it won't and can't do a thing if the players they have aren't experienced or good enough to perform. I would say you've been watching "The Club" too much because while it may work in movies, in the real world, developing a good side takes time.
A Mans Not A Camel
Guest
No offense, but completely disagree with you there. Not one coach has a magic wand. Malthouse, arguably one of the best coaches of our era (based purely on premierships) has inherited a far more complete team in Carlton, including some absolute star players. They are currently 7th, on percentage alone, in a pack of 4 teams (I include Richmond and Port as they are one game behind after bye). Last year they finished 10th. Based on that, have they improved magically under Malthouse? I think not. I think they will, and there are definate signs of Malthouse's coaching style starting to appear, but they are not there yet. And that is with a team full of players a lot of other teams would love to pick up. Melbourne and Neeld, have had to deal with a list of young kids full of potential but not there yet, cast aways from other clubs, scandals (tanking anyone?), zero on field or off field successes prior to appointment, and you expect what? Melbourne to be in the top 4 already? Seriously, Neeld should be given a break, he really should get at the very least until the end of season, but, based on what I have seen as a non melbourne supporter, I would give him 2014 as well, especially if the team starts to string 2 or 3 of those competative quarters together by years end. There's no silver bullet here, time is whats needed.
A Mans Not A Camel
Guest
Agreed. A good example to back it up is Sheedy and GWS. He's had more time with them than Neeld has had with the demons, had money to throw at his list, and didn't Melbourne still beat GWS? Perhaps an unfair comparison some may say - but is it? Melbournes list on the whole is very young, and unlike GWS, they have not had the funds to throw at top level experienced players (not that GWS have - but they *could* have). Time is what is needed here, quarter 1 against the pies I think is what the Melbourne supporters need to hold onto - 4 quarters of that and they can be competative against any team. Improve skills, timing, game reading & conditioning - and they can be a finals playing team. But time is needed to get there to improve the previously mentioned things, and match conditioning - they already have the right man in the job as coach.
Happy Hooker
Guest
All reasonable points Michael. But tomorrow I want to see the article "Why the Demons need to get rid of Neeld". Some very compelling arguments there. While he might know his stuff, Melbourne cannot afford to wait until their young players have 50 games under their belt, and can turn in consistent performances week in week out. Melbourne need a coach who can inspire his (or her!) charges to play to their capability every week. Someone they want to do it for. Mark Neeld is not that someone, as nice a guy as he may be. A viewing of classic Australian film "The Club" should be compulsory viewing for everyone at Melbourne FC.
Michael Cowley
Expert
Some great points made Kev. I particularly agree with your comment about taking years to build a good list and importantly a good footy department..
Kev
Guest
Yet another typical misguided view from someone expecting instant results. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it takes years to build a good list along with a football department capable of identify and developing talent all which Melbourne has lacked for decades. Neeld has been there for 18 months which is nowhere near enough time to undo all the damage from previous years. No one, including Sheedy and Roos could have done a better job in the same period of time. For all we know Neeld could have done plenty of work behind the scenes to make improvements to the side but the results of which won't be seen for at least 2 to 3 years. We don't expect 18 year old players drafted into the club to be instant success stories overnight so why is the same measure applied to coaches?
Radelaide
Guest
The only reason to keep him is to save money, a good reason to get rid of him is the damage will take longer to fix.