Damo: Neeld Was "Shootable"

Neeld "wasn’t going to be there" in 2019


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In the wake of the Mark Neeld’s sudden departure from Essendon on Monday, Triple M Footy’s Damian Barrett says the former assistant coach was “shootable”.

Neeld has been seen as a scapegoat for the Bombers’ disastrous start to the season and Damo believes that moving him on was easy for the club because he wasn’t going to be at Tullamarine beyond this season anyway. 

“There is always someone, and I put this in inverted commas, ‘shootable’ in these circumstances – Mark Neeld was,” Damo told Triple M’s Rush Hour during The Midweek Rub

“He clearly wasn’t going to be there next year on their planning to that point already, might as well make that call now and make it easier and also send the warning sign to everyone else.”

Damo also accused the Bombers of sending out mixed messages with regards to Neeld’s departure. 

The club officially said it was a mutual decision, but Damo wasn’t so sure.

“You don’t get to round eight of the season as an assistant coach and choose to leave,” Damo said.

“It’s a change – it’s the first of many changes that will come at the end of the year when it comes to the coaching structure.

“No coincidence (Essendon football manager) Dan Richardson’s the man who’s left Richmond who made those decisions (to axe assistant coaches) relating to (Damien) Hardwick - first year at Essendon and he has pulled the trigger early.”

16 May 2018




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