“A whole lot of words about absolutely nothing,” he said when reflecting on Jason Mifsud’s much-publicised accusations.
Yet Neeld’s past week - err, sorry, past month - has been more akin to the opening scenes of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.
Like Indiana Jones, Neeld has had to dodge and weave his way through a myriad of challenges, while focusing on the job at hand.
It’s seemed that, once one hurdle has been overcome, another quickly pops up.
Even George Lucas and co couldn’t have written this script. But that’s been Neeld’s lot so far.
When you reflect on the club’s past month and what Neeld has had to contend with, this is what’s followed in order: Liam Jurrah’s personal situation, the passing of club great Jim Stynes, a frustrating round one loss - and subsequent heavily scrutinised post-match media conference, Mifsud’s allegations and the loss of the club’s major sponsor.
To cap it off, the fixture added further spice when Melbourne headed to Perth for one of football’s toughest road trips. And it proved correct. A rampaging - and in form - West Coast Eagles smashed the Demons by 108 points.
Objectively Melbourne was always up against a “slick” and “outstanding footy side”, as Neeld labeled the Eagles after the match. (It’s also worth noting the Demons hadn’t won at Patersons Stadium since Neale Daniher was coach in 2004. Back then, the Demons defeated Fremantle. It’s also 10 years since Melbourne last defeated the Eagles at Subiaco.)
Quite simply, it’s been a remarkable start to Neeld’s senior coaching career, which now consists of two senior matches.
As far as what the off-field implications have had on the team, Neeld says, “it’s impossible for anyone to answer”.
“It’s been an interesting week. There have been a lot of articles written,” he said.
Even Mitch Clark, who booted an equal career-best five goals in the loss, wasn’t sure if the off-field issues had distracted the players.
“It’s hard to say. Our job is to play footy and we need to be professional and leave all that stuff aside,” he said.
“We were really excited to come over [to Perth] as a team and get out of Melbourne and play together, but it didn’t work out for us.”
Given that Neeld’s coaching career has started at a frenetic ‘Raiders’-like pace, there will no doubt be calmer scenes along the way. But, just as assured, there will be further challenges. Hopefully for Neeld’s sake, these will be more about football, rather than extraordinary off-field situations.
No apprenticeship or experience could’ve prepared anyone for what Neeld has had to endure.
The bravado and brutality of football would suggest that it’s no excuse. But any person with an ounce of empathy should have more than an ounce for Neeld.
Make no mistake Neeld is absolutely honest about the job at hand. And he ain’t sugar-coating it.
“People are realistic,” he said.
“The test of all clubs - and ones that want to become very strong clubs … you don’t condone being beaten by that much.
“There were some certain positives … but certainly [we’ll] use the loss as an educational tool.”
Neeld is at the start of his Melbourne journey. He has overseen a revamped football department, at a stage where the list is still young and inexperienced in games.
It must be remembered - and reinforced - that Melbourne entered 2012, as one of four AFL teams, along with Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast Suns and Richmond, to be in the bottom five clubs for fewest AFL matches played and list youthfulness combined.
These are not the indicators for immediate success.
It will take time. How long? No one knows the definitive answer. It’s sure to click, but exactly when?
Patience is bereft of many Melbourne supporter, given it hasn’t played finals since 2006.
But there is no other way to describe Neeld’s situation.
He has inherited a developing list and instituted a totally different regime. That was his brief.
These days, the accessibility of things might be achievable and reachable via the touch of a screen, scroll of a media platform or click of a keyboard, but some things remain the same in football terms.
The development and progression of a team can’t be transformed over night.
It’s been a bloody tough week for Neeld and Melbourne - players, coaches, staff and most importantly those who bleed the red and blue.
But let’s hope the coach was able to start the new week with a hot cross bun and an Easter egg or two, before he turned his attention onto plotting a victory over Richmond.
This time without the distractions.
