melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan reflects on the outstanding career so far of new Melbourne Director of Sports Performance Neil Craig
NEIL Craig timeline
Born January 11, 1956 NEIL Craig timeline
1973: Debuts as a 17-year-old for Norwood in the SANFL.
1974: In his second season, the Redlegs again finish fourth.
1975: He plays in Norwood’s premiership side against Glenelg. The Redlegs win by 12 points.
1976: In Craig's fourth season with Norwood, the club finishes fourth.
1977: He wins Norwood’s best and fairest award.
1978: Craig plays in his second premiership for Norwood. The Redlegs defeat Sturt by one point.
1979: He finishes with Norwood, after 126 matches with the Redlegs.
1980: Craig makes his debut with SANFL team Sturt.
1981: In the first 'Interstate Draft' held on October 8, Craig is drafted by Footscray at No.2. Melbourne's Alan Johnson is No.1. This was a forerunner to the National Draft as we know it today. (For the record, the first National Draft was held in 1986).
1982: In his third season with Sturt, its finishes fourth in the SANFL.
1983: He is among South Australia’s best in its 56-point win over Victoria in state of origin. Sturt is defeated by West Adelaide in the SANFL grand final.
1984: Captain’s South Australia against Victoria in an epic state of origin match. Stephen Kernahan kicks 10 goals for South Australia, but Victoria wins by four points. It is regarded as one of the greatest state of origin matches.
1985: Craig is named captain of Sturt.
1986: After leading Sturt again, Craig finishes with the club at the end of the season. He finishes with 134 matches for Sturt.
1987: Debuts for North Adelaide, his third SANFL club.
1988: Craig plays his second season with the Roosters.
1989: In his second last season, North Adelaide makes the grand final, but losses by 94 points.
1990: He finishes with North Adelaide, playing 61 matches. Overall, he ends his SANFL career with 319 matches and 220 goals. He also finishes with 11 state of origin matches to his name.
1991: Takes over from Neil Balme as coach of Norwood. He leads the Redlegs to seventh position.
1992: In his second season with Norwood, he again guides it to seventh.
1993: He leads Norwood to its first grand final since 1984 however Woodville-West Torrens wins by 73 points.
1994: Craig coaches Norwood to fourth.
1995: In his final season as Norwood coach, Craig oversees his side to third on the ladder.
1996: Involved in South Australian Institute of Sport and its cycling program.
1997: Becomes fitness adviser and assistant coach of Adelaide. He plays a massive role in Adelaide winning back-to-back premierships. Craig had previously been a sports scientist at South Australian Institute of Sport. His “tapering” training is regarded as cutting edge among the AFL.
1998: Adelaide wins its second premiership, with Craig again playing a major role in the sports science area.
1999: After back-to-back flags, Adelaide finishes 13th.
2000: Leaves Adelaide and takes up a position with the Australian Olympic cycling team.
2001: Returns to Adelaide and becomes an assistant/midfield coach to senior coach Gary Ayres. At the end of 2001, he is favourite to take over as West Coast Eagles coach, but he opts to step away from the running.
2002: Named in the South Australian football Hall of Fame.
2003: Continues as midfield coach with the Crows.
2004: Takes over from Gary Ayres as caretaker coach in round 14. His first AFL match as coach is against Melbourne. The Crows defeat the Demons by 72 points. Craig leads Adelaide in the final nine rounds, winning four matches and losing five. He is then appointed coach for 2005.
2005: In his first full season as Adelaide coach, Craig leads the Crows to the minor premiership and a preliminary final against West Coast Eagles. The Crows fall 16 points short of reaching the grand final. Adelaide finishes with 18 wins from 25 matches and the lowest points-against total since 1968. He oversees the rebuilding of Adelaide’s backline, resulting in Ben Rutten and Nathan Bock becoming two of the best tall defenders in the AFL.
2006: Craig’s team starts in brilliant style, winning 14 matches from the opening 16 rounds. By this stage, Adelaide is outright favourite for the premiership. But several late season injuries to key players result in a tough run home. The Crows win three of the final eight matches, although a round 22 win over Melbourne and a second qualifying final win over Fremantle finishes in another preliminary final. Adelaide falls short to West Coast by 10 points. The Crows finish third on the ladder - one better than 2005.
2007: Craig again leads the Crows to the finals. But Adelaide is knocked out of the finals in the first week, after Hawthorn wins a nail-biting three-point first elimination final at Docklands.
2008: Again guides Adelaide to the finals. The Crows finish seventh, losing to Collingwood in the first elimination final. He creates a club record, leading Adelaide to four consecutive finals series.
2009: Craig lifts Adelaide to fifth position - and its fifth successive finals series - before it ends in a heartbreaking loss to Collingwood in the first semi-final. The Crows fade out against the Magpies, after leading by 26 points at half-time. Adelaide falls five points short.
2010: The Crows miss the finals for the first time since 2004. Craig oversees nine wins for the season.
2011: Before the start of the season, Craig is placed on the club staff, rather than a set contract period. After a tough season, Craig steps down as coach on July 25, following Adelaide’s 102-point loss to St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. He leaves Adelaide as the longest serving coach in its history. Craig finishes with 92 wins and 74 losses from 166 matches. He guides Adelaide to five consecutive finals series from 2005-09, which includes three wins and three losses. Craig says: “It’s time [to finish as senior coach]. To continue would hurt the club, given the negativity and distraction that my own role has become. We have clearly underperformed this year and as senior coach, I take the responsibility for that.” Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman says: “I can’t speak highly enough of Neil. He’s made an extraordinary contribution to our club since 1997; and more particularly since taking over as coach midway through 2004. Craig soon becomes a man in demand with the AFL, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond and Cricket Australia all believed to have been interesting in acquiring his services. But it is Melbourne, which lands the highly-respected Craig on Thursday, September 2011. He joins Melbourne as its Director of Sports Performance.
