MPNFL: Neil Craig to continue as Devon Meadows coach in 2021
Devon Meadows coach Neil Craig was going to relinquish the reins, but he’s had a change of heart. There’s a good reason behind his decision.
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Neil Craig says he feels “a sense of obligation’’ to continue as coach of Devon Meadows in 2021.
Craig took the reins last year with the original plan to step away after the 2020 season.
But after building a new-look Panthers squad only for the 2020 season to be cancelled, he says he needs to continue.
“To be honest I wasn’t going to, I was only going to do a couple of years,’’ Craig said.
“But given what’s happened there’s a sense of obligation there...there were eight or nine guys who came across this year that I went and got.
“I’m not sure if they’d hang around if I gave it away, and that would leave the club in a hell of a spot.
“I think it’s worth hanging around for another year of establishment and then handing over the reins after that.”
Craig was Troy Shannon’s senior assistant at Mt Eliza in 2018 after coaching Mornington’s under-19s for three seasons from 2015-17.
Devon Meadows is a club with plenty of spirit but only one premiership (a reserves flag in 2015) in over 40 years.
Among the recruits Craig secured were Frankston Bombers trio Jacob Cudmore, Wayne Groves and Adam Pasquill, Rory Hillis from Tooradin and Will “Buzz’’ Mace and Jordy Smale from Keysborough.
Craig was adamant the Panthers had the right mix and were set to climb the ladder in 2020.
“It was a really good mix, it was really disappointing (the season was scrapped) because it was a really good blend of guys,” he said.
Craig wants his players to have a complete break from football before returning refreshed and energised. He points out there is only nine months before the 2021 season kicks off.
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