ONE AFTERNOON he was coaching the Collingwood midfield, the next he was Melbourne’s senior coach. It’s all happened at a million miles an hour for Mark Neeld, who recalled some of the standout memories and events so far at the helm.
Attending first club function (Melbourne best and fairest)
Attending first club function (Melbourne best and fairest)
“[There were several emotions] rolled into one. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get up and address the 900 people who were there.”
“That was a mix of Melbourne Football Club staff, players, members, supporters and followers. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get up there. It was a really good function, and best and fairest nights are good to celebrate some of the performances from the previous season.
“It was also good to have lower key discussions with some of the players in different environments. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the club made myself and my family very welcome.
“It was my first taste of the world of the Melbourne Football Club from a function point of view - and the function was very professionally done and a great night. It was done extremely well by the events group.”
Being in the Collingwood rooms on grand final day
“That was a mix of Melbourne Football Club staff, players, members, supporters and followers. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get up there. It was a really good function, and best and fairest nights are good to celebrate some of the performances from the previous season.
“It was also good to have lower key discussions with some of the players in different environments. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the club made myself and my family very welcome.
“It was my first taste of the world of the Melbourne Football Club from a function point of view - and the function was very professionally done and a great night. It was done extremely well by the events group.”
Being in the Collingwood rooms on grand final day
“It was a very strange feeling and one that’s hard to describe.”
“I try and explain it. I was sitting in the Southern Stand with my wife Sarah and we were watching the game. For the last four years, except the 14 days leading into that game, I had spent nearly every day with those guys - the players and the coaching group.
“So that was a strange feeling and up until three quarter-time, Collingwood put up [a good effort] and it was a terrific grand final.
“I went down into the rooms because I felt that I needed to for me, and I felt that it was the correct thing to do and I needed to have a quick chat with some of the players and Mick [Malthouse].
“The footy industry being the way it is - I’m really glad of the opportunity that Mick gave me to have those two weeks [with Melbourne]. The things that we were able to do at Melbourne and achieve them - having had a senior coach appointed - we got a jump start over some other clubs that were in a similar position.
“We were able to get into it, and I was very grateful for the opportunity that Mick gave me for myself and, of course, for the Melbourne Football Club to start in that manner.
“But in the rooms - deep down we’re all human - and realistically, they were people who were work colleagues and friends and they hadn’t achieved what they set out to achieve.
“I didn’t stay too long in the rooms, but I got in there and let them know that I was there and supporting them and understood what they were going through and that was it.”
Your first few days in the job
“I try and explain it. I was sitting in the Southern Stand with my wife Sarah and we were watching the game. For the last four years, except the 14 days leading into that game, I had spent nearly every day with those guys - the players and the coaching group.
“So that was a strange feeling and up until three quarter-time, Collingwood put up [a good effort] and it was a terrific grand final.
“I went down into the rooms because I felt that I needed to for me, and I felt that it was the correct thing to do and I needed to have a quick chat with some of the players and Mick [Malthouse].
“The footy industry being the way it is - I’m really glad of the opportunity that Mick gave me to have those two weeks [with Melbourne]. The things that we were able to do at Melbourne and achieve them - having had a senior coach appointed - we got a jump start over some other clubs that were in a similar position.
“We were able to get into it, and I was very grateful for the opportunity that Mick gave me for myself and, of course, for the Melbourne Football Club to start in that manner.
“But in the rooms - deep down we’re all human - and realistically, they were people who were work colleagues and friends and they hadn’t achieved what they set out to achieve.
“I didn’t stay too long in the rooms, but I got in there and let them know that I was there and supporting them and understood what they were going through and that was it.”
Your first few days in the job
“It was a sub-whirlwind. Friday, September 17, was a busy day.
“At 1 pm I was coaching the Collingwood midfield at Gosch’s Paddock and then at 6 pm, I was the Melbourne senior coach.
“My timeframe from then was that I met with some of the senior management team on the Friday night, and I coordinated a few things. The first thing was to do the press conference in the correct manner.
“I got that done and went home and had dinner at Ocean Grove and a few people came around - we have a bit of an open house policy - and there were lots of pats on the back.
“On the Sunday morning, I had an 8 am meeting in Melbourne with Neil Craig and I started straight away. Now I look back, I’m extremely pleased I put that time in with Neil, because he’s been a great appointment for the club.
“So Sunday was devoted to the Neil Craig day, and I explained to him the structures that I wanted. Then we started to get the people I wanted in the coaching structures. That was the priority that I wanted to get done.
“I addressed the players on the Friday of that week, and since then I’ve had a number of players come through the office for a quick little update, check in and introduction.
“So a whirlwind was certainly the way to describe the first month.”
“At 1 pm I was coaching the Collingwood midfield at Gosch’s Paddock and then at 6 pm, I was the Melbourne senior coach.
“My timeframe from then was that I met with some of the senior management team on the Friday night, and I coordinated a few things. The first thing was to do the press conference in the correct manner.
“I got that done and went home and had dinner at Ocean Grove and a few people came around - we have a bit of an open house policy - and there were lots of pats on the back.
“On the Sunday morning, I had an 8 am meeting in Melbourne with Neil Craig and I started straight away. Now I look back, I’m extremely pleased I put that time in with Neil, because he’s been a great appointment for the club.
“So Sunday was devoted to the Neil Craig day, and I explained to him the structures that I wanted. Then we started to get the people I wanted in the coaching structures. That was the priority that I wanted to get done.
“I addressed the players on the Friday of that week, and since then I’ve had a number of players come through the office for a quick little update, check in and introduction.
“So a whirlwind was certainly the way to describe the first month.”
