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It is difficult to analyse if Neil Craig has done a good job or bad job at Essendon. Certainly with the ASADA issues it is difficult to judge overall performance of coaches, players or administrators at Essendon.
Since the start of 2015, James Hird has already lost his position, and Nathan Bassett has moved to Port Adelaide as their new defensive coach. John Worsfold is the favourite to take over at Essendon and no doubt this will lead to a further shuffle in the coaching box.
So where does this leave Neil Craig?
With Steven Trigg at Carlton the rumour mill is in full swing that Craig will find his way to Carlton in a Director of Coaching role, especially with first time AFL coach in Brendon Bolton at the helm.
As coach at Adelaide, Neil Craig had a good overall win/loss record between 2004-2011. What was considered Craig’s weakness was match day coaching, and most notably finals in which Adelaide had a 3-6 win/loss ratio during Craig’s tenure.
A disappointing 2011 season saw Neil Craig depart after Round 16, bringing an end to a long association at Adelaide. Before coaching, Craig was a fitness adviser during the Crows Premierships under Malcom Blight in 1997 and 1998.
Recently Neil Craig has not been involved in a lot of success. After leaving Adelaide, Neil Craig found himself at the Melbourne where he was appointed the Director of Sports Performance role, a job primarily mentoring and assisting players as well as the assistant coaches at the club, while also providing support to new senior coach Mark Neeld.
Unfortunately the performance of the Demons continued to be poor and Neeld was sacked part way through 2013. Craig took over as a caretaker coach for the remainder of the season.
The change in coach did not really lead to a boost in form. Melbourne won 1 game out of 11 and Craig left Melbourne with the arrival of Paul Roos at the end of the 2013.
No doubt Neil Craig is highly respected within the AFL environment. But the old adage that success breeds success might be something Carlton need to think about before making a play for Craig. Neil Craig has vast experience in football, but tasted very little success in recent times. 2009 is the last time Neil Craig has been involved at an AFL club that has won a finals match.
Of course being involved at Melbourne and Essendon are not ideal environments to be in so is it too harsh to judge Craig based on results at these clubs?
Carlton have made a lot of poor decisions in recent seasons, Brendon Bolton needs as much support as he can get at Carlton and the jury is out if Neil Craig will be the right support.
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For somewhere between two and three and a half quarters, depending on how generous you want to be, Adelaide didn't do a whole lot…
Hopefully Jake Soligo doesn't keep it in there for too long!
Why wasn't Brandon Zerk-Thatcher right on the line?
