PART one: morning
Tuesday, May 8
7 am
The light is starting to break through the clouds for what will eventuate into a beautiful autumn day in Melbourne.
I cross the bridge from the MCG to AAMI Park, in readiness for my day with Neil Craig.
Before I’m scheduled to meet at Craig at 7.30 am, I pop into ‘The Bench’ café.
I bump into senior football analyst Luke Chambers, and he asks me what I’m up for the day. I tell him I’ll be “tagging” the Melbourne director of sports performance.
“He’s the godfather. He oversees it all,” says Chambers with respect.
By the end of the day, I realise he’s spot on.
7:20 am
I walk into Craig’s office and he greets me with his usual upbeat directness.
“Matty, come in,” he says.
Craig informs me that he’s already had a brief chat to new national recruiting officer Tim Lamb about a former Adelaide player.
He then outlines his day. There is plenty on. He spends a few minutes preparing things for the day ahead.
I ask Craig what time he usually gets up and starts work.
“5.30 to quarter to six. It’s the best part of the day, Matty. The early bird catches the big fat worm,” he says.
He’s almost Tom Hafey-like in his approach.
List manager Tim Harrington walks towards his office, next to Craig’s, but stops to say hello.
“You’ve got your suit on today, Tim,” Craig says.
Harrington answers with a smile: “Yes, I’ve got meetings on today with player managers.”
“Jerry Maguire. Show me the money,” Craig adds.
Harrington walks past laughing. Craig gives me a wink.
A quick call to Melbourne board member and football director Greg Healy follows, before Craig’s day starts.
“Communication between the board and footy department is very important. Really, it’s just so they know what’s happening. For example, [board member] David Thurin sat in on a meeting the other day - it’s nothing more than just David becoming informed. The more communication we have with the board, the better,” Craig says seriously.
In the space of 30 minutes, Craig has exposed the key traits of his personality. He is direct, engaging, humorous, serious and empathic. Most of all, he commands respect and has presence.
8 am
Craig enters a senior management meeting in the match committee room at AAMI Park, which consists of administration and football department members: Cameron Schwab, Matt Green, John Poulakakis, Chris Connolly, Harrington, Josh Mahoney, Peter Maynard, Jane Robertson, Jen Watt and Ben Groom. Mark Neeld is an apology, as he is promoting the club via a radio interview at SEN in Richmond.
Firstly, Schwab gives the management group an update on the club’s financial aspects of the club situation, following on from the recent sponsorship deals.
He then moves onto strategies/values surrounding the club.
‘High performance with high integrity’ is a mantra which has been adopted by the club, and strongly pushed by Craig.
It’s a fascinating conversation to observe. The managers are passionate, but considered in their views. It makes for interesting debate.
Craig then gives an update on the football department.
He concedes that Melbourne was clearly outplayed by Geelong.
Craig says the coaching staff also sees encouraging signs regarding the defensive actions that Neeld is trying to implement.
“And it won’t be any easier on Friday night. Hawthorn is well coached and exceptional with its ball movement,” he says.
Craig soon moves onto other football business, which includes possible training camps during next pre-season.
Football manager Mahoney then gives an update on the injuries from the weekend, highlighted by the broken jaws to midfielder Jordan Gysberts and father/son prospect Jack Viney during Casey’s win over Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
It leads into Harrington’s update on list management.
Just after 9 am, the senior management stops for a quick break.
9:15 am
Senior management move into the bigger zone room at AAMI Park.
Watt, who oversees marketing and communication, updates the team on her area, including media relating to the upcoming clash against Hawthorn.
The possibility of a joint media conference with Hawthorn is discussed.
Craig is asked his thoughts on the matter.
“No good asking me, I’m very territorial,” he says, drawing laughs.
Green, the chief operation officer follows up with a financial update of the club, before commercial operations general manager Maynard gives an update on sponsorship.
9:30 am
Senior management continues, but it’s time for Craig to cut short his involvement and hit the track.
He quickly heads back to his office and checks his email and phone. He has two missed calls.
Craig tells me the meeting is a great opportunity to understand the entire operations of the club.
“I get a generic understanding of the total football club. It’s important to know what’s happening. We need to operate as a total inclusive football club, with a clear understanding of how everything fits in commercially,” he says.
“Communication around our core business - which is footy - is essential.”
Craig bumps into Neeld in the corridor for an impromptu chat.
“Those moments can be important,” he says.
And then it’s time for training on Gosch’s Paddock.
10 am
It’s a glorious morning outside. The sun is glistening and it’s perfect conditions for training.
Soon, Craig wanders out on the track with a footy firmly tucked under his arm. The players lay on the lush grass stretching, as Craig weaves between them. It’s akin to watching the pre-season footage of Ron Barassi zig-zag around his charges upon his return in the lead-up to the 1981 season.
In the meantime, Neeld gets ‘miked up’ by Channel Seven, for its Friday night coverage during Melbourne’s clash against Hawthorn.
Craig soon wanders back towards the edge of the training track, where he greets the work experience kids, who are undertaking a week at the club. A handful of supporters and Collingwood officials watch on.
A quick chat with backline development coach Andrew Nichol follows, before Craig is back among the players, this time ruffling the hair of Liam Jurrah.
Craig is buzzing around, relishing being out on the track.
He gets involved with everything.
One moment, he’s firing off handballs. The next he’s watching the rehab group, featuring Clint Bartram, Josh Tynan and Michael Evans intently. He’s soon in conversation with Bartram.
Back on the track, he chats with Sam Blease, before a kicking to advantage drill takes place.
Craig watches on as Jurrah yells out ‘arrrghhh’ after missing a target. He runs back to his group and immediately completes several pushups. Jurrah’s soon back on his feet and in the action.
The main training drill of the day teaches players to spread by running to find space and running to defend.
Later in the drill, Craig gets involved with the stoppage/clearance aspect of it. He acts as umpire, throwing the ball up for the ruck contest.
The final training exercise is a spreading drill performed at high intensity.
One particular passage catches Craig’s eye.
“Jack Trengove, well done there to close with speed,” he says.
After almost an hour on the track, Craig has a quick chat with Neeld near the edge of training.
Play comes towards the duo with Jurrah hotly in pursuit of Jimmy Magner.
“LJ, you’ve got him. He’s scared Jimmy,” Neeld yells.
The session is soon nearing the end.
But Craig has one last involvement. He throws and rolls footballs to players in one of the last drills.
“Step into it Magner,” he orders.
“Rattle the skeleton big fella,” he says to Cale Morton after he cops one from Colin Sylvia.
Craig’s enthusiasm is infectious until the end of the session.
11:20 am
Training concludes and the players, coaches and officials are starting to head back to AAMI Park.
Kelvin Lawrence is standing near Craig, as a person approaches the rookie.
They chat for a minute, before Craig says: “Kelvin, who’s this?”
Lawrence says: “Cousin.”
Craig, standing behind a roped off area, tells Lawrence and his cousin to come over for a chat.
He talks and laughs with the pair for a few minutes, before we head back to AAMI Park.
11:30 am
On the way back to the football department, I chat to Craig about his role on the track. His role is to observe, offer suggestions and mentor, as he explains.
“You get 40 to 45 minutes once a week, so you’ve got to maximise that time with the drills - the type, the way you coach them,” he says.
“People say ‘you’re full time’. But you can’t train them all day - not even in pre-season. Your use of time is so important, particularly at the moment, when there are so many things that we want to do with the group - in terms of coaching and education. You’ve got to keep prioritising.”
Back at Craig’s desk, he calls over assistant football analyst Robbie Chancellor to help with his computer.
“Look at the amount of experience here. I’m surrounded by it. How lucky am I?” Craig says with a laugh.
In the process, Craig attempts to fix the broken arm of his glasses, held on by sticky tape. But in true organised style, Craig has a back-up pair.
He pulls out a small case featuring a fold up pair of glasses, akin to a gadget in a James Bond flick.
“Look at these babies,” Craig says, proudly displaying them to me.
The morning is almost over, and already it’s a great insight into Craig’s day. He proves to be an important part of the Melbourne team. Quite clearly, he is a mentor and a ‘father figure’ to the players, coaches and administrators.
To be continued …
