SINCE Melbourne played its last match of the 2011 season against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on September 4, the club has been at the forefront of news in the AFL. Melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan looks back on the past four months in a special four-part series …
September
4 - Melbourne finishes its frustrating 2011 season with a loss against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval - the first AFL premiership match played at the venue. The Demons lose by eight points. Melbourne ends its 2011 season in 13th position with eight wins, one draw and 13 losses.
12 - After much speculation all season, Tom Scully informs Melbourne he is headed for Greater Western Sydney. Club vice-president Don McLardy says Scully leaves for “an unprecedented offer in AFL history”. Chief executive Cameron Schwab says Scully’s departure is like a “black cloud” lifted from the club. Schwab adds that Melbourne will gain maximum compensation for Scully’s departure. Later that day, Melbourne announces the re-signings of Cale Morton and Stef Martin for 2012-13.
13 - Just one day after losing Tom Scully to GWS, the AFL announces that Melbourne will receive two first round selections in the NAB AFL Draft. One pick can be activated after the club's first selection in any draft between 2012 and 2015. The other mid-first-round pick, when activated, will be placed in the draft behind the clubs who missed that year's finals.
14 - General manager of list management Tim Harrington says “the compensatory picks are a valuable commodity because of the flexibility that they provide the club”.
17 - Melbourne announces Mark Neeld as its new senior coach. The 40 year-old former Geelong and Richmond player and Collingwood assistant coach signs a three-year deal with Melbourne. Neeld says, “I simply want to coach the team that is the hardest to play against in the AFL”.
20 - The Demons name Dave Misson as its new elite performance manager. Misson is regarded as one of the finest fitness coaches in Australian sport. Misson joins the Demons after a four-year stint at St Kilda. Earlier that day, Melbourne announces the departure of Mark Williams, Scott West and Joel Hocking.
21 - Chris Connolly becomes general manager of club development - a newly created position - and Josh Mahoney, who was forward coach, takes over as football manager. Connolly was general manager of football. Brian Royal takes over as midfield coach, after guiding the backline in 2010. Aaron Greaves is named midfield assistant coach, after coaching the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup.
23 - Brent Moloney caps off an outstanding season, winning his first Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy. Moloney wins the club best and fairest from Jared Rivers, James Frawley, Nathan Jones and Jack Trengove. New senior coach Mark Neeld addresses the Melbourne faithful for the first time. He says, “I figured I got here doing it my way, so I’m just going to keep doing it my way.”
26 - Melbourne is allocated a total of $9.1 million from 2012-16, after the AFL announces its $1.1 billion club funding and equalisation strategy to ensure the viability and competitiveness of the 18 AFL clubs during the next five years.
27 - Dual premiership player and two-time best and fairest winner Stuart Spencer passes away. He was aged 79. Spencer played in Melbourne’s 1955-56 flags and also won the best and fairest in those seasons.
28 - The Demons announce former Richmond coach and Brisbane Lions assistant Jade Rawlings as its new backline coach. The Dees also appoint former Werribee coach Paul Satterley as its development forward line coach.
29 - Melbourne wins the services of former Adelaide coach Neil Craig, who joins the club as director of sports performance. Craig, who coached the Crows to 92 wins from 166 matches from 2004-11, was strongly pursued by several AFL clubs and other non-AFL organisations. Craig said, “In Mark Neeld I see a coach that has a clear vision and I wanted to be part of this coaching group that will work really hard to give the members and supporters what they have been craving."
September
4 - Melbourne finishes its frustrating 2011 season with a loss against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval - the first AFL premiership match played at the venue. The Demons lose by eight points. Melbourne ends its 2011 season in 13th position with eight wins, one draw and 13 losses.
12 - After much speculation all season, Tom Scully informs Melbourne he is headed for Greater Western Sydney. Club vice-president Don McLardy says Scully leaves for “an unprecedented offer in AFL history”. Chief executive Cameron Schwab says Scully’s departure is like a “black cloud” lifted from the club. Schwab adds that Melbourne will gain maximum compensation for Scully’s departure. Later that day, Melbourne announces the re-signings of Cale Morton and Stef Martin for 2012-13.
13 - Just one day after losing Tom Scully to GWS, the AFL announces that Melbourne will receive two first round selections in the NAB AFL Draft. One pick can be activated after the club's first selection in any draft between 2012 and 2015. The other mid-first-round pick, when activated, will be placed in the draft behind the clubs who missed that year's finals.
14 - General manager of list management Tim Harrington says “the compensatory picks are a valuable commodity because of the flexibility that they provide the club”.
17 - Melbourne announces Mark Neeld as its new senior coach. The 40 year-old former Geelong and Richmond player and Collingwood assistant coach signs a three-year deal with Melbourne. Neeld says, “I simply want to coach the team that is the hardest to play against in the AFL”.
20 - The Demons name Dave Misson as its new elite performance manager. Misson is regarded as one of the finest fitness coaches in Australian sport. Misson joins the Demons after a four-year stint at St Kilda. Earlier that day, Melbourne announces the departure of Mark Williams, Scott West and Joel Hocking.
21 - Chris Connolly becomes general manager of club development - a newly created position - and Josh Mahoney, who was forward coach, takes over as football manager. Connolly was general manager of football. Brian Royal takes over as midfield coach, after guiding the backline in 2010. Aaron Greaves is named midfield assistant coach, after coaching the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup.
23 - Brent Moloney caps off an outstanding season, winning his first Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy. Moloney wins the club best and fairest from Jared Rivers, James Frawley, Nathan Jones and Jack Trengove. New senior coach Mark Neeld addresses the Melbourne faithful for the first time. He says, “I figured I got here doing it my way, so I’m just going to keep doing it my way.”
26 - Melbourne is allocated a total of $9.1 million from 2012-16, after the AFL announces its $1.1 billion club funding and equalisation strategy to ensure the viability and competitiveness of the 18 AFL clubs during the next five years.
27 - Dual premiership player and two-time best and fairest winner Stuart Spencer passes away. He was aged 79. Spencer played in Melbourne’s 1955-56 flags and also won the best and fairest in those seasons.
28 - The Demons announce former Richmond coach and Brisbane Lions assistant Jade Rawlings as its new backline coach. The Dees also appoint former Werribee coach Paul Satterley as its development forward line coach.
29 - Melbourne wins the services of former Adelaide coach Neil Craig, who joins the club as director of sports performance. Craig, who coached the Crows to 92 wins from 166 matches from 2004-11, was strongly pursued by several AFL clubs and other non-AFL organisations. Craig said, “In Mark Neeld I see a coach that has a clear vision and I wanted to be part of this coaching group that will work really hard to give the members and supporters what they have been craving."
