“It’s gonna take patience and time, ummm, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it right child.” - George Harrison
THESE lyrics from George Harrison’s song Got My Mind Set on You could well apply to a Mark Neeld quote following Melbourne’s disappointing loss to Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
The Demons had a shocker in the third term, but were otherwise in the contest for three quarters. It mattered little in the final term that Melbourne levelled the scores, as the damage had been done: Richmond smashed Melbourne with nine goals to one, setting up a 59-point lead at three quarter-time - also the final margin.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for any person with red and blue running through their veins.
It reinforced the reality that Melbourne’s rise will take patience and time - not music to the ears of many.
But, as Neeld said during his post-match media conference, he didn’t want to use any “three-card tricks” when setting up his coaching reign at Melbourne.
He’s in it for the long haul. He wants to ensure there are “quality structures and quality programs within the club to make progress”.
How long that takes is unknown. No one can predict the future, not even AFL coaches. It could happen sooner rather than later. It may take longer than Neeld’s first three-year deal.
“You know that senior coaches aren’t going to give you timeframes. That’s not going to happen,” he said adamantly.
Neeld also made the valid point that a change of coach often meant an overhaul of many football-related matters, which again would take patience and time.
“There’s not too many senior coaches [who] inherit a team at the top of the ladder. There have been a couple lately, but that’s rare,” he said.
“There’s a reason why the coach has changed and, irrespective of that reason, there is always going to be a change of direction, because the club feels it needs to be that.
“Most coaches start with a three-year contract, so therefore it’s a three-year plan and you need to see it develop.”
No doubt Neeld pointed to Geelong coach Chris Scott, who performed the rare and remarkable feat of coaching a premiership in his first season, as one of the exceptions.
Although Scott inherited the most experienced list in the AFL in 2011, many critics believed the Cats would slip. Instead, Scott guided Geelong to its third flag in five seasons - a wonderful achievement by both the coach and the club.
Yet Neeld has inherited a list which entered 2012 in the bottom five of having the least experience in games played.
It’s a considerable difference.
Scott Watters has taken over as St Kilda coach this season. The Saints have been in the finals for seven of the past eight seasons. Although many pundits believe the Saints are headed for a slip in 2012, they have started the season promisingly.
Interestingly, this year St Kilda has taken the title of the most experienced list in the competition - in games - from Geelong. And, with the reintroduction of Lenny Hayes, who has returned from a knee injury this year, the Saints can’t be dismissed this year.
It’s still a long year and who knows where St Kilda will finish, but the reality is that it’s far more advanced in experience than Melbourne - regardless of previous or incumbent coaching staffs.
Whether St Kilda can have a tilt for the flag in 2012 or whether it slips into the middle tier of teams remains a fascinating plot line to the 2012 AFL season. Time will tell, but the Saints do have experience to start with.
So what now for Neeld and Melbourne?
The Demons need to keep evolving, soldiering on and building for the future. Importantly, Melbourne needs to keep hope and not be devoid of confidence, which can happen quickly - and among even the best in the business - in times like this.
Neeld has already targeted where improvement will come from, and how the team will keep building for the future.
“We need to see guys like Jeremy [Howe] continue to improve - he’s played 15 games and has played in a variety of roles and is going really well, so that’s our test,” he said.
“We think we’ve got a core of young players, of which Jeremy is one, and the two Jacks (Grimes and Trengove) are another two.
“We have a strong belief that if we continue to coach them well and instill really good habits, then we’ll get there … but there is clearly a building phase going on.”
And you can be assured that Neeld will give it one almighty crack. After all he’s got his mind set on the job.
THESE lyrics from George Harrison’s song Got My Mind Set on You could well apply to a Mark Neeld quote following Melbourne’s disappointing loss to Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
The Demons had a shocker in the third term, but were otherwise in the contest for three quarters. It mattered little in the final term that Melbourne levelled the scores, as the damage had been done: Richmond smashed Melbourne with nine goals to one, setting up a 59-point lead at three quarter-time - also the final margin.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for any person with red and blue running through their veins.
It reinforced the reality that Melbourne’s rise will take patience and time - not music to the ears of many.
But, as Neeld said during his post-match media conference, he didn’t want to use any “three-card tricks” when setting up his coaching reign at Melbourne.
He’s in it for the long haul. He wants to ensure there are “quality structures and quality programs within the club to make progress”.
How long that takes is unknown. No one can predict the future, not even AFL coaches. It could happen sooner rather than later. It may take longer than Neeld’s first three-year deal.
“You know that senior coaches aren’t going to give you timeframes. That’s not going to happen,” he said adamantly.
Neeld also made the valid point that a change of coach often meant an overhaul of many football-related matters, which again would take patience and time.
“There’s not too many senior coaches [who] inherit a team at the top of the ladder. There have been a couple lately, but that’s rare,” he said.
“There’s a reason why the coach has changed and, irrespective of that reason, there is always going to be a change of direction, because the club feels it needs to be that.
“Most coaches start with a three-year contract, so therefore it’s a three-year plan and you need to see it develop.”
No doubt Neeld pointed to Geelong coach Chris Scott, who performed the rare and remarkable feat of coaching a premiership in his first season, as one of the exceptions.
Although Scott inherited the most experienced list in the AFL in 2011, many critics believed the Cats would slip. Instead, Scott guided Geelong to its third flag in five seasons - a wonderful achievement by both the coach and the club.
Yet Neeld has inherited a list which entered 2012 in the bottom five of having the least experience in games played.
It’s a considerable difference.
Scott Watters has taken over as St Kilda coach this season. The Saints have been in the finals for seven of the past eight seasons. Although many pundits believe the Saints are headed for a slip in 2012, they have started the season promisingly.
Interestingly, this year St Kilda has taken the title of the most experienced list in the competition - in games - from Geelong. And, with the reintroduction of Lenny Hayes, who has returned from a knee injury this year, the Saints can’t be dismissed this year.
It’s still a long year and who knows where St Kilda will finish, but the reality is that it’s far more advanced in experience than Melbourne - regardless of previous or incumbent coaching staffs.
Whether St Kilda can have a tilt for the flag in 2012 or whether it slips into the middle tier of teams remains a fascinating plot line to the 2012 AFL season. Time will tell, but the Saints do have experience to start with.
So what now for Neeld and Melbourne?
The Demons need to keep evolving, soldiering on and building for the future. Importantly, Melbourne needs to keep hope and not be devoid of confidence, which can happen quickly - and among even the best in the business - in times like this.
Neeld has already targeted where improvement will come from, and how the team will keep building for the future.
“We need to see guys like Jeremy [Howe] continue to improve - he’s played 15 games and has played in a variety of roles and is going really well, so that’s our test,” he said.
“We think we’ve got a core of young players, of which Jeremy is one, and the two Jacks (Grimes and Trengove) are another two.
“We have a strong belief that if we continue to coach them well and instill really good habits, then we’ll get there … but there is clearly a building phase going on.”
And you can be assured that Neeld will give it one almighty crack. After all he’s got his mind set on the job.
