Melbourne won just four games during 2012 to finish 16th in Neeld's first year as coach.
"People struggle when you come second every week," Neeld said. "That is a mental struggle."
However, the coaches have been buoyed by the emergence of a core group of players with the skills and qualities to take the group up the ladder.
"I've got a core group of players where I'm seeing the beginning stages of elite-level footballers," Neeld said.
He said some young Demons had potential star factor and he has already gone through the exercise of comparing the development of some of his inexperienced players with the game's current guns at similar stages in their career.
Comparing the start of Jeremy Howe's career with that of Collingwood's Dale Thomas makes sense and is one to hearten suffering Melbourne supporters.
Adding more players with those qualities will be the focus of the drafting and trading period.
Neeld has been consistent in emphasising the Demons will be after competitors at the trade table and keeps the explanation of what is required pretty simple.
"People that we know have a strong work ethic and a strong discipline," Neeld said. "We need an injection of a couple more of those."
While Jake Spencer, Tom McDonald, James Sellar and Jared Rivers did well to plug holes and Lynden Dunn showed enough good signs in defence to look to have a future, the club lacked midfield depth and talls to cover any losses, let alone that of leading goalkicker Mitch Clark in round 13.
After the 61-point loss to Fremantle to end Melbourne's season on Saturday night, Neeld was clear on the approach being taken.
"We've got the opportunity now to be ruthless in our analysis of our own list, plus any other players that we think can come in and help us move forward," he said.
"The successful clubs that play good finals football and maintain a solid culture to stay in the finals, they're ruthless clubs and that's something we want to turn our club into."
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
