COACH Mark Neeld acknowledges the game plan he has instituted will continue to take time for the players to adjust to, but he remains steadfast it will produce results long-term.
Speaking at AAMI Park on Thursday, Neeld conceded there were some “disturbing efforts” against the Swans at the SCG last round, but he remains confident the wheels will turn in the future. But he added the performance against Sydney was “unacceptable” for a whole host of reasons.
“We’ve got a clear view of how we want to play and we’re eight weeks into what’s going to be a long journey - if that’s the right term. And things take time, absolutely,” he said.
“We’re really clear on the way we want to play, but before that, for us as a group, it’s about establishing our own standards and what we think is acceptable and what isn’t.
“Teams will have their own game style, but there is a bit more that you need, before you worry about game styles and those things.”
On the back of a much-scrutinised week in the media, Neeld said he took on board some comments, but not all.
“Sometimes I’ll read stories about me and I’ll read it and I’ll think ‘hang on, that’s a little bit off the mark’. And if that happens a couple of times, then you discredit that person’s feedback, because you’re not sure how that’s all going,” he said.
“But on the other hand, you read some people’s stuff and you go ‘that’s worth having a bit of read’.”
Still, Neeld said he couldn’t respond to every Melbourne-related piece in the media, given the vast coverage of the game.
“We actually don’t sit around all day and read every article in the newspaper and listen to every radio [station],” he said.
“I don’t have time for that. I’ve got a whole heap of work I’ve got to do with regards to getting better, me personally, and coaching the players and working with assistant coaches … we’re extremely busy.
“The scrutiny is different to sitting in an assistant chair, because you’re the face of it and you’ve got to talk about it. It’s a heavily scrutinised position … but until you’re in any position, you don’t know what it’s going to be like.”
Meanwhile, Neeld said forward Liam Jurrah could return from an ankle injury sooner than the four to six weeks estimation.
“He’s off his crutches and he’s walking around and yesterday (Wednesday), he actually did a little bit of work in the gym, so it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he’s back before four weeks,” he said.
Speaking at AAMI Park on Thursday, Neeld conceded there were some “disturbing efforts” against the Swans at the SCG last round, but he remains confident the wheels will turn in the future. But he added the performance against Sydney was “unacceptable” for a whole host of reasons.
“We’ve got a clear view of how we want to play and we’re eight weeks into what’s going to be a long journey - if that’s the right term. And things take time, absolutely,” he said.
“We’re really clear on the way we want to play, but before that, for us as a group, it’s about establishing our own standards and what we think is acceptable and what isn’t.
“Teams will have their own game style, but there is a bit more that you need, before you worry about game styles and those things.”
On the back of a much-scrutinised week in the media, Neeld said he took on board some comments, but not all.
“Sometimes I’ll read stories about me and I’ll read it and I’ll think ‘hang on, that’s a little bit off the mark’. And if that happens a couple of times, then you discredit that person’s feedback, because you’re not sure how that’s all going,” he said.
“But on the other hand, you read some people’s stuff and you go ‘that’s worth having a bit of read’.”
Still, Neeld said he couldn’t respond to every Melbourne-related piece in the media, given the vast coverage of the game.
“We actually don’t sit around all day and read every article in the newspaper and listen to every radio [station],” he said.
“I don’t have time for that. I’ve got a whole heap of work I’ve got to do with regards to getting better, me personally, and coaching the players and working with assistant coaches … we’re extremely busy.
“The scrutiny is different to sitting in an assistant chair, because you’re the face of it and you’ve got to talk about it. It’s a heavily scrutinised position … but until you’re in any position, you don’t know what it’s going to be like.”
Meanwhile, Neeld said forward Liam Jurrah could return from an ankle injury sooner than the four to six weeks estimation.
“He’s off his crutches and he’s walking around and yesterday (Wednesday), he actually did a little bit of work in the gym, so it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he’s back before four weeks,” he said.
