COACH Mark Neeld says he and the football department are not working the Melbourne players too hard.
Neeld raised the notion at Melbourne’s Commencement Dinner at Crown on Wednesday night.
He said he was asked the question by three journalists, following some injuries to several Demons, and after the third time, pondered the thought himself. But after assessing it, Neeld was in no doubt of his answer.
“We’re not working them too hard, if we seriously want to one day challenge the top four performing teams in the competition,” he said.
Neeld said he wanted his players to have the strongest core, and to be the fittest aerobically in the competition.
He pointed out that the prospect of working the players too hard wasn’t raised after Melbourne defeated the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood in the NAB Cup.
Neeld said he would continue to pose questions of the players and club alike to get Melbourne back among the competition’s elite.
“I’m part of a generation that, when I went through school, we were encouraged to ask ‘why?’ ” he said.
“You don’t have to accept everything that happens. You can get someone to explain it to you, and explore new ways of doing things.”
Neeld said that this way of thinking was in no way being disrespectful to anything that has happened in the past.
“We certainly respect what has gone before. We will respectfully challenge everything that is going on - it’s the way we think, and we will improve our club,” he said.
“Why are we doing it? Well, I simply want to lead a footy department that’s a leader in the competition - a leader in high performance.
“It’s part of Schwabby’s ‘Red and Blue Print’ - high performance with high integrity.”
Neeld said that the football department had set up a football university, with three all-in lectures per week, four tutorial groups, and practical training sessions on the oval.
He said that, with nine premierships and 11 university degrees among the coaching group, plus a “helluva lot of passion”, the football department was well prepared for all challenges.
“We have an idea of what we’re doing,” he said.
In a lighthearted comparison, Neeld noted that just a week ago, his biggest concern was that his suit didn’t fit him.
Overall, Neeld said the football department and administration alike had an “unbelievable passion” for the club.
Following a challenging week, which included further injuries to players, the Liam Jurrah issue and Hawthorn’s 79-point win, Neeld said he received some sage advice and observations from director of sports performance, Neil Craig.
“At 8 am on Sunday, after I got to bed at 6.30 am, Neil Craig rang me and the message was ‘welcome to coaching, young man’,” he said.
Neeld raised the notion at Melbourne’s Commencement Dinner at Crown on Wednesday night.
He said he was asked the question by three journalists, following some injuries to several Demons, and after the third time, pondered the thought himself. But after assessing it, Neeld was in no doubt of his answer.
“We’re not working them too hard, if we seriously want to one day challenge the top four performing teams in the competition,” he said.
Neeld said he wanted his players to have the strongest core, and to be the fittest aerobically in the competition.
He pointed out that the prospect of working the players too hard wasn’t raised after Melbourne defeated the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood in the NAB Cup.
Neeld said he would continue to pose questions of the players and club alike to get Melbourne back among the competition’s elite.
“I’m part of a generation that, when I went through school, we were encouraged to ask ‘why?’ ” he said.
“You don’t have to accept everything that happens. You can get someone to explain it to you, and explore new ways of doing things.”
Neeld said that this way of thinking was in no way being disrespectful to anything that has happened in the past.
“We certainly respect what has gone before. We will respectfully challenge everything that is going on - it’s the way we think, and we will improve our club,” he said.
“Why are we doing it? Well, I simply want to lead a footy department that’s a leader in the competition - a leader in high performance.
“It’s part of Schwabby’s ‘Red and Blue Print’ - high performance with high integrity.”
Neeld said that the football department had set up a football university, with three all-in lectures per week, four tutorial groups, and practical training sessions on the oval.
He said that, with nine premierships and 11 university degrees among the coaching group, plus a “helluva lot of passion”, the football department was well prepared for all challenges.
“We have an idea of what we’re doing,” he said.
In a lighthearted comparison, Neeld noted that just a week ago, his biggest concern was that his suit didn’t fit him.
Overall, Neeld said the football department and administration alike had an “unbelievable passion” for the club.
Following a challenging week, which included further injuries to players, the Liam Jurrah issue and Hawthorn’s 79-point win, Neeld said he received some sage advice and observations from director of sports performance, Neil Craig.
“At 8 am on Sunday, after I got to bed at 6.30 am, Neil Craig rang me and the message was ‘welcome to coaching, young man’,” he said.
