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Former Essendon assistant coach Mark Neeld was blindsided by his messy exit from the Bombers
FORMER Essendon assistant coach Mark Neeld has opened up about his shock exit from the Bombers, saying he was disappointed to be moved on in-season while also addressing the rumours about his role.
FORMER Essendon assistant coach Mark Neeld has opened up about his messy exit from the Bombers, saying he was disappointed to be moved on in-season.
Neeld was removed from his position as game performance coach after the Round 8 loss to Carlton which left the Bombers’ finals hopes reeling at 2-6. While the club has since engineered an encouraging turnaround, Neeld suggested he was blindsided by the bold decision from new footy boss Dan Richardson to make his role redundant. R19 TEAMS: WHO IS IN AND OUT THIS WEEK? RATINGS: WHICH COACH HANDLES THE MEDIA? TIPPING: WHO ARE THE EXPERTS PICKING THIS WEEK? “’Richo’ said ‘We have had a look at things, we want to restructure and there are a number of pieces which you have been doing which we think John (Worsfold) needs to start doing’, which is more of an education piece, and that project had come to an end,” Neeld said. “He (Richardson) said ‘We are looking forward, this role that you have got it is not going to be here’, and that is disappointing, (because) I was hoping there would be another project.” Need had spent three years on helping create a player education program based on the fundamentals of Worsfold’s coaching philosophies and vision for the club. Neeld, who coached Melbourne briefly in 2012-13, denied reports he was an obstruction or road block for other coaches in the Essendon coach’s box. “There are a lot of myths in footy, and I did hear that (claim),” Neeld said. “That is a shame, that that was said. That was certainly not true.” Neeld also explained the controversial decision to appoint Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes as young co-captains of Melbourne and the intense pressure on James Hird throughout the supplement scandal. The full podcast is available at ww.aflcoaches.com.au COMPLETE THE SURVEY AND YOU COULD WIN GRAND FINAL TICKETS FOLLOW ALL TODAY’S AFL NEWS AS IT HAPPENS IN THE BLOG BELOW Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as Former Essendon assistant coach Mark Neeld was blindsided by his messy exit from the Bombers