Embattled Melbourne Demons coach Mark Neeld not worried about saving his job

MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld doesn’t feel like he’s fighting to keep his coaching career alive against Hawthorn on Sunday.

Mark Neeld

MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld doesn't feel like he’s fighting to keep his coaching career alive against Hawthorn on Sunday.

Following Melbourne’s 90-point loss to Fremantle, Demons great Gerard Healy said Neeld had two weeks to save his job.

And there have been reports he could be axed as early as the club’s Monday board meeting.

Neeld, who is committed to seeing out his three-year contract -- which he is halfway through, said he thought he had the full support of the Melbourne board.

"The external pressure or external noise or whatever it is … that only impacts on your day-to-day job if you let it," he said.

"I’m not letting it."

Neeld expected Monday’s board meeting would be no different to previous scheduled meetings.

"Monday’s board meeting is a regular monthly board meeting where I go along and give about a half an hour report," he said.

"That will be the same ... it’s just a regular monthly board meeting where there’s robust discussion about a whole heap of issues and progress and stuff like that."

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Asked if he felt like he had the board’s support he said: "Yeah ... I chatted with Don (president Don McLardy) this morning. It was just a normal conversation.

"Spoke to him about not the specific tactical things that board members don’t need to worry about, but some ideas that we’re thinking about, who’s in line for selection, who’s not.

"It was just an everyday president-coach conversation this morning."

Mark Neeld

Meanwhile, Melbourne will play forgotten forward Jack Fitzpatrick against Hawthorn on Sunday.

The 200cm Fitzpatrick, who has kicked 13 goals in five games for Casey Scorpions -- including five against Geelong on Sunday, has played just three matches for the Demons because of injury and illness.

Fitzpatrick was drafted to the club for the 2010 season and debuted in 2011.

"He’s had a consistent month," Neeld said. "He’s going to play and he’s going to play forward and he’ll pinch hit I the ruck."

Neeld also said defender Dean Terlich was “fine” after copping a knock to the ribs against Fremantle last week.