FORMER Melbourne captain Brad Green says coach Mark Neeld didn’t beat around the bush, when he was told he wouldn’t captain the club in 2012.
Despite being disappointed when he was initially informed, Green said Neeld was exactly what Melbourne needed, given the club’s frustrating 2011 season.
The 2010 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy winner said Neeld’s unwavering approach - in terms of his coaching structures or beliefs - will hold the club in good stead this year and beyond.
“Neeldy’s a straight-shooter and he said straight away ‘mate, I’m not going to bulls*** to you, I’m just going to tell you that you’re not going to be captain’,” he said.
“He basically told me that we were going with youth and a new approach and that’s all the discussion was.”
Green said he was fully supportive of the new leadership group, but felt for 2011 vice-captains Aaron Davey, Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers, who were also relinquished of their duties.
“I feel a little bit sorry for those guys, because they are good leaders and they are [still] going to be good leaders around this place,” he said.
“Beamer won the b and f last year and Riv was second and they had good years. We’ve had a chat and their roles won’t change - they’ll be still leading around the place.”
Green said the revamped leadership group was a signal to last year’s frustrating season.
“You look at all aspects of the club and our performances on the field - I can only comment on those - weren’t up to scratch,” he said.
“And it probably counted in the fact that Geelong was the worst and personally, I took that the hardest, because I was captain that day. It was a shocking game and a shocking experience to be a part of.”
But the 2011 Australian International Rules skipper didn’t feel captaining the club hindered his game last year.
“I didn’t feel that it was a burden,” Green said.
“Definitely just going out and playing footy now will be something that I enjoy doing.
“I don’t think it’ll change from my perspective.”
Green said being a captain up forward also made it tough on occasions, but he didn’t label it as an excuse.
“It is a little bit. It’s a bit different for me. I’m not Jonathan Brown or Nick Riewoldt - they’re big key position players and they can force themselves on the game,” he said.
“Being a small, medium-sized forward and being a captain up one end - you can float in and out of games - but that’s no excuse either.
“I had a year that wasn’t the best, especially coming off 2010 and that’s something I’ve tried to work on all pre-season - getting back to that form.”
Meanwhile, Green said he didn’t do the bulk of last pre-season, whereas he has done more heading into 2012.
Despite being disappointed when he was initially informed, Green said Neeld was exactly what Melbourne needed, given the club’s frustrating 2011 season.
The 2010 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy winner said Neeld’s unwavering approach - in terms of his coaching structures or beliefs - will hold the club in good stead this year and beyond.
“Neeldy’s a straight-shooter and he said straight away ‘mate, I’m not going to bulls*** to you, I’m just going to tell you that you’re not going to be captain’,” he said.
“He basically told me that we were going with youth and a new approach and that’s all the discussion was.”
Green said he was fully supportive of the new leadership group, but felt for 2011 vice-captains Aaron Davey, Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers, who were also relinquished of their duties.
“I feel a little bit sorry for those guys, because they are good leaders and they are [still] going to be good leaders around this place,” he said.
“Beamer won the b and f last year and Riv was second and they had good years. We’ve had a chat and their roles won’t change - they’ll be still leading around the place.”
Green said the revamped leadership group was a signal to last year’s frustrating season.
“You look at all aspects of the club and our performances on the field - I can only comment on those - weren’t up to scratch,” he said.
“And it probably counted in the fact that Geelong was the worst and personally, I took that the hardest, because I was captain that day. It was a shocking game and a shocking experience to be a part of.”
But the 2011 Australian International Rules skipper didn’t feel captaining the club hindered his game last year.
“I didn’t feel that it was a burden,” Green said.
“Definitely just going out and playing footy now will be something that I enjoy doing.
“I don’t think it’ll change from my perspective.”
Green said being a captain up forward also made it tough on occasions, but he didn’t label it as an excuse.
“It is a little bit. It’s a bit different for me. I’m not Jonathan Brown or Nick Riewoldt - they’re big key position players and they can force themselves on the game,” he said.
“Being a small, medium-sized forward and being a captain up one end - you can float in and out of games - but that’s no excuse either.
“I had a year that wasn’t the best, especially coming off 2010 and that’s something I’ve tried to work on all pre-season - getting back to that form.”
Meanwhile, Green said he didn’t do the bulk of last pre-season, whereas he has done more heading into 2012.
