KEY FORWARD Mitch Clark is on target for the start of Melbourne’s pre-season campaign.
The boom first-year Demon has not played since Melbourne's round 13 win against Greater Western Sydney at the MCG, when he suffered a foot injury, ending his season.
He has since missed the past eight matches and will not play in rounds 22 and 23.
But Neeld is optimistic Clark, who kicked 29 goals in 11 matches this season, will be ready for the start of training in late October.
“The doctors are telling us that the surgeons are really pleased with the surgery and we can expect Mitch to train on day one of pre-season,” Neeld said at AAMI Park on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Neeld said the club was in constant contact with forward Liam Jurrah, who has taken leave to be with family in Adelaide.
Jurrah has dealt with a much-publicised off-field incident this year, along with an ankle injury, which has sidelined him for much of the season.
“We’ve got a couple of people who have expertise in that area - a couple of welfare officers and they’re in daily contact with Liam and that has been the way it’s been for the whole year,” Neeld said.
“I’m due to speak to Liam tomorrow and the club is giving Liam as much support as we can - and the best way we possibly can.
“Liam is dealing with some issues that have been spoken about a lot and have been written about a lot and they’re significant. We deal with them on a daily basis and we’re certainly not across the depth of them.
“Liam’s family and what he’s going through need to be at the forefront of his thinking and that’s the way it should be and it should stay.”
The boom first-year Demon has not played since Melbourne's round 13 win against Greater Western Sydney at the MCG, when he suffered a foot injury, ending his season.
He has since missed the past eight matches and will not play in rounds 22 and 23.
But Neeld is optimistic Clark, who kicked 29 goals in 11 matches this season, will be ready for the start of training in late October.
“The doctors are telling us that the surgeons are really pleased with the surgery and we can expect Mitch to train on day one of pre-season,” Neeld said at AAMI Park on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Neeld said the club was in constant contact with forward Liam Jurrah, who has taken leave to be with family in Adelaide.
Jurrah has dealt with a much-publicised off-field incident this year, along with an ankle injury, which has sidelined him for much of the season.
“We’ve got a couple of people who have expertise in that area - a couple of welfare officers and they’re in daily contact with Liam and that has been the way it’s been for the whole year,” Neeld said.
“I’m due to speak to Liam tomorrow and the club is giving Liam as much support as we can - and the best way we possibly can.
“Liam is dealing with some issues that have been spoken about a lot and have been written about a lot and they’re significant. We deal with them on a daily basis and we’re certainly not across the depth of them.
“Liam’s family and what he’s going through need to be at the forefront of his thinking and that’s the way it should be and it should stay.”
