LEADER Colin Garland says the “shackles are off” with new coach Neil Craig at the helm.

Speaking at AAMI Park on the eve of Melbourne’s first match since Mark Neeld’s departure on Monday, Garland said the team would attack every side with renewed enthusiasm for the rest of 2013.

“As Neil said this week, ‘just go and kick some goals and really enjoy your footy’,” he said.

“It’s a really running side, a really attacking side and Mitch Clisby comes into the side this week – he’s a really attacking, rebounding defender.

“He’s one of many guys we’ve got in the side now that we can really take it up to sides now with nothing to lose.”

Although Garland said he felt pressure every week, he said the players no longer had any excuses.

“If the spotlight is on us, then that’s great, because hopefully that’ll bring the best out in us,” he said.

“We’ve taken responsibility for the club and where it’s at at the moment.

“We haven’t been good enough and we hope that in the next 11 weeks, we can really build a base for whoever coaches us next year.”

Garland said Craig was “an interesting character”, but one who had instantly made his presence felt in the role.

“I’m sure you’ve seen him with the short shorts and the long socks, but as he said to us, he’s in for this next 11 weeks and he means that,” he said.

“When someone of Neil’s stature gets up in front of you and has the eyes going and the intensity going and he tells you that he’s in for the next 11 weeks, then I feel that you can’t help but buy in.

“He really wants us to go out and attack this week. We’ve got nothing to lose, so we might as well go out and try it.” 

The 91-gamer also noticed that Craig’s persona had changed since taking on the senior coaching role for the first time since he finished up after 166 matches with Adelaide in 2011. 

“We’ve seen different aspects of Neil now. He’s taken on a real hands-on role, but we can’t make too many changes too quickly, because it’s not as if we’re in pre-season,” Garland said.

“We are working on a few things this week, but it’s really gradual - the stuff that Neil wants to bring in over the next couple of weeks. If we try to bring in too much too early, we’ll probably fall apart a little bit.

“Neil has brought a few things on this week and hopefully we can implement them pretty early on against the Saints.”

Reflecting on the departure of Neeld, Garland said it was “always a tough day” when a coach was moved.

“When you build up a relationship with a guy over 18 months, you feel for him, but as a playing group, we’ve got to move on really quickly. It’s amazing how quickly footy moves on,” he said.

“We’ve got a game tomorrow (Saturday) and it’s five days after Mark’s [gone] and the club is moving on already, with Mitch Clisby making his debut this week, so we get a bit of positivity around the club about that.”

“I definitely felt for Mark and definitely appreciative of all of the stuff that he’s done for the club and I reckon he’s set a really good base for a new coach next year to come in and hit the ground running.”

Garland said the players “definitely” felt a sense of responsibility for Neeld’s demise.  

“If we let ourselves feel guilt and wallow in our own self-pity for too long, then we’re going to keep on getting what we’ve been getting,” he said.

“We’ve got to move on really quickly and appreciate what Mark’s done for us individually. We’ve all spoken to him over this week, but we’ve got to move on really quickly because we’ve got the Saints tomorrow.”

Although Garland praised Neeld’s efforts and said in a perfect world the former coach would’ve served out his three-year contract, the defender said he wasn’t sure why it didn’t work out under his now former mentor. 

“I feel that from being here before Mark was here, and being here now, I know how better advanced we are as footballers,” he said.

“Our role this week is to get on and play on Saturday and then back Neil as much as we were trying to back Mark,” he said.

“The people that are making the decisions at the club, we back them to make the right decision, so we just move on and play Saturday.”