Mark Neeld
Encyclopedia
Mark "Neeldy" Neeld is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Geelong
and Richmond
in the Australian Football League
(AFL) during the 1990s. He is currently the senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club
.
. He spent four seasons with Geelong and had his best season in 1991
, where he played 21 games, three of which were finals games. Used on both ends of the ground, as both a defender and forward, he kicked three goals in the Semi Final against Hawthorn
and two goals in Geelong's Preliminary Final loss to West Coast
. In 1994
, Neeld joined Richmond after being traded for the 38th pick of the draft
, which Geelong used to recruit David Innella. He retired at the 1996 AFL season
, having played 74 AFL games,48 for Geelong and 26 for Richmond.
in the Bellarine Football League
. As coach of Ocean Grove
, Neeld steered the club to four successive premierships from 2000 to 2003. He spent three years as the Western Jets
senior coach in the TAC Cup
before appointed the defensive assistant coach of Collingwood in 2008. His coaching duties changed in 2010 when he was put in charge of Collingwood's midfield.
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) during the 1990s. He is currently the senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
.
Playing Career
Neeld, originally from St Joseph's Football Club, started his footballing career with GeelongGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
. He spent four seasons with Geelong and had his best season in 1991
1991 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1991.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
, where he played 21 games, three of which were finals games. Used on both ends of the ground, as both a defender and forward, he kicked three goals in the Semi Final against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
and two goals in Geelong's Preliminary Final loss to West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. In 1994
1994 AFL season
-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. An additional 9 games were played during the finals series. It was the first season that the AFL implemented a top 8 team finals series...
, Neeld joined Richmond after being traded for the 38th pick of the draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
, which Geelong used to recruit David Innella. He retired at the 1996 AFL season
1996 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1996.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Lighting Premiership:...
, having played 74 AFL games,48 for Geelong and 26 for Richmond.
Coaching Career
Shortly after his retirement as an Australian Rules Football player, he was appointed the new head coach of the Ocean Grove Football ClubOcean Grove Football Club
The Ocean Grove Football Club is an Australian rules football club that plays in the Bellarine Football League and situated in the town of Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia.- History :...
in the Bellarine Football League
Bellarine Football League
The Bellarine Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Bellarine Peninsula region of Victoria, Australia, formed in 1971.Six of the eight founding clubs played in the Polwarth Football league the year before....
. As coach of Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove Football Club
The Ocean Grove Football Club is an Australian rules football club that plays in the Bellarine Football League and situated in the town of Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia.- History :...
, Neeld steered the club to four successive premierships from 2000 to 2003. He spent three years as the Western Jets
Western Jets
The Western Jets Football Club are an Australian rules football club who play in the U18 competition, the TAC Cup. The club have developmental squads in the U15 and 16 age groups, however much of the attention is towards its U18 team....
senior coach in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
before appointed the defensive assistant coach of Collingwood in 2008. His coaching duties changed in 2010 when he was put in charge of Collingwood's midfield.
Melbourne Football Club
On 17 September 2011 it was announced that Neeld had agreed to become the senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club beginning in season 2012 on a three-year contract. Neeld agreed to leave Collingwood immediately, despite the fact that the club was still competing in the finals2011 AFL finals series
The 2011 Australian Football League finals series will determine the winner of the 2011 AFL season. The series is scheduled to occur over four weekends in September 2011, culminating with the 115th AFL/VFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 1 October 2011...
.