COACH Mark Neeld says he fully understands that everyone associated with the club – supporters, players, coaches and staff – have been “hurting” following Easter Sunday’s opening round shocker.
Neeld conceded the 79-point loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG was an “unacceptable performance” and that his team “didn’t keep at it” during the match. But he was adamant that the players and coaches have worked tirelessly to turn their fortunes around.
“Full credit to Port Adelaide, they did and made us look way below standard, so we’ve reviewed it and we’ve handled it with some areas that we’ve needed to improve, and it’s onward for Essendon,” he told the Coach’s Office on Dee TV.
Neeld said the most frustrating aspect of the defeat was that it wasn’t a reflection of the pre-season.
“To train a particular way, and then to play in a manner that didn’t represent [our pre-season was disappointing],” he said.
Post-match, Neeld said he didn’t see the result coming, and he expanded on that comment.
“The reason I came out with that comment is … we were really pleased with the manner in which we’ve been training to prepare for the season,” he said.
“People here at our football club, who have been involved elsewhere and involved in really successful organisations, are quite happy to say that our training stacks up.
“We were unable to transfer that, so that’s where that comment came from.”
Neeld said the next critical step was to transfer his side’s weekly training performances into match day.
“We are second year into rebuilding the way our football department goes about how we do our weekly business, and we believe great strides have been made with player preparation and the way we train,” he said.
“We’ve got to transfer that into game day.”
Neeld said everyone was entitled to their opinion on Melbourne’s performance, but he added that the players and coaches didn’t have time to sift through every ounce of criticism.
“Some things happen that make players and make football clubs uneasy – that’s the way it goes. It’s not nice, but that’s the industry we’re in. It’s a fierce industry,” he said.
“The players are made to feel a certain way by some sections of the footballing public – that’s their choice. We’re an open football club that will be honest, and we understand that the performance wasn’t up to speed - if that’s the way that some people choose to deal with that – that’s their decision.
“And when we become good, if they want to come back and support us, then the gates will always be open. But if they choose not to, then that’s a choice.”
Neeld said there was no “vow or promise” from his players about this Saturday night’s clash against the Bombers at the MCG. He said his team simply needed “direction and guidance”.
“We haven’t done anything out of the ordinary in terms of gimmicks or anything like that, or pledges. We’ve gone through it from an educational point of view, and then a competitive spirit point of view,” he said.
The fact that Melbourne has not lost to Essendon since 2009 didn’t mean anything this time around, according to Neeld.
“No, [it means] nothing, for us. Statistics and all those types of things – both groups are particularly different,” he said.
“They’ve very different football clubs and different players, so we’ll just go in the manner in which we want to play.
“Essendon will have a look at the way we play, and we’ll have a look at the way they’ve played, and we’ll get out there and we’ll see how we go. But we’re asking for a far more competitive presentation of our group.”
Neeld flagged some changes to last week’s 22, but not “radical” ones.
But he left the Melbourne faithful with one message for this week.
“We’ll be open and honest and our supporters just need to know that we’ve gone through the tape with a fine tooth comb and pointed out the areas that we thought we were deficient in, and below AFL standard,” he said.
“The players have been given a very, very clear direction and we’re going about it and doing as much hard work as we can to rectify it.
“But it is 1/22 of a season and we know that seasons are marathons and all of those types of analogies, so stick in there and support the club. Everyone needs support and if the choice is to do that – fantastic. But if the choice is not to do that, and then you want to come back and support us – we’re always here.”