The Demons produced their best display for the season, before falling 18 points short against the Saints - the most experienced list in the AFL.
But it was the performance of six-gamer Tom McDonald and 21 year-old Jordie McKenzie, plus 100-gamer Clint Bartram, which caught the eye of Neeld.
“Tom McDonald, for example, I thought he was outstanding [on St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt]. Jordie McKenzie [on Brendon Goddard] … and Clint’s (Bartram) effort in his 100th game, you can’t let that one go,” he said post-match.
“There was a glimpse into what we can be like, provided that the talent is matched with a work ethic and discipline all the time.
“What I saw tonight is what I saw over pre-season with Tom McDonald. He’s a competitive young man, and that’s the way he trains.”
Although Neeld was pleased with the continued improvement of his team, he was still frustrated his troops could not produce its first win of the season.
“We’re playing against the most experienced side in the competition in terms of games played, and we’re the fourth youngest, and that probably had a bit to do with it,” he said.
“The ability to be not only consistent week to week, but throughout the quarters, there were patches where the Saints to their credit turned some of their possession chains into quality inside 50s.
“The stats will indicate that we touched the ball enough in comparison to the Saints, but we weren't turning those possession chains into quality inside 50s.
“Three weeks ago I was not sitting here talking about possession chains, so that is a positive. But no one likes losing.”
Although the Demons have copped plenty externally, Neeld said he believed the team had shown more than what it had been given credit for in the first five rounds.
“We’re getting to a stage over the last games where the effort of the players has been terrific,” he said.
“We’re also walking down the steps of the coaches’ box thinking how were we 18 points behind? So we’re starting to coach in terms of structure and finer points.
“I think that’s important over the last two weeks - we’re starting to see some things in the game that we’ve been practicing on the track.
“So we’re getting a little bit better.”
Neeld said the players stayed in their structures for 85 per cent of the match.
“We felt in the end, the Saints’ ability to stick at their game structure was for longer than we were able to stick it out.”
