NEW MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld says he will lead the club in his own way.

The former Collingwood senior assistant coach to Mick Malthouse drew great applause from the red and blue faithful when he addressed the 900-plus supporters at the club’s recent best and fairest.

Neeld, who served a coaching apprenticeship in various roles from 1997 to 2011, said he would be himself as he leads the Demons into a new era.

“I figured I got here doing it my way, so I’m just going to keep doing it my way,” he said.

The 40-year-old said Melbourne did a “thorough” job when it went searching for its new senior coach.  

“It was a unique selection process and it’s no secret, I chatted to a couple of other clubs, which did it their own way, and that’s fine,” he said.

“When I went home to [my wife] Sarah and discussed what was going on, she said, ‘how’d you go, what are they like?’

“I wrote down three words about Melbourne people I’d met - and this was prior to my appointment. They were the only club I wrote ‘passionate’ next to.”

Neeld said he met with club great Garry Lyon, vice-president Don McLardy and chief executive Cameron Schwab.

“We met for two hours and had many cups of coffee,” he said.

“Don McLardy punched the desk two times, Garry Lyon punched it five times, and Cameron and I sat there wondering what the hell was going on.

“They’re a united bunch, and I’ve met heaps of them. I’m really keen to see the club prosper and be successful for a long period of time, and they’re committed to the cause - that’s my first impression.”

Neeld said there would be at least eight full-time coaches at the club next season, which “stacks up very well with the best clubs going around”.

He added that new elite performance manager Dave Misson was “world class” in his field.