Some good news for Melbourne with co-captain Jack Grimes re-signing for three years

MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld insists he still has the confidence of the players as the Demons prepare to save face against West Coast.

MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld insists he still has the confidence of the players as the Demons prepare to save face against West Coast at the MCG.

He said his main concern was for the team rather than his own future after losses by 79 and 148 points in the opening rounds.

He said he knew there was fight left in his troops because he saw it for "15 or 20 minutes" in the first quarter against Essendon last week. He said the club was doing everything it could to turn its fortunes around.

On a positive note, co-captain Jack Grimes yesterday re-signed for another three seasons.

At a press conference yesterday Neeld said:

JACK Watts was disappointed to have been dropped but was "really clear" about the reasons.

CRITICISM of the decision to air his pre-match talk last week was wrong. He said it was arranged between Channel 7 and the club's media department "weeks and weeks before the event" and was seen as an opportunity to give Demons fans a greater insight into the club.

OUTGOING chief executive Cameron Schwab had left a "positive imprint" on him. He said he was not privy to the decision to ask Schwab to resign.

Neeld said the club's mid-week break in Sorrento was a good opportunity for players and coaches to discuss frankly the club's performances in the first two rounds.

Neeld said "every ounce of energy that I've got is going into looking after the players".

Asked whether he still had their confidence, he replied: "Absolutely".

Demons coach trying to rebuild players