Mark Neeld

Mark Neeld (born 13 July 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong and Richmond in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1990s. He was senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club from 2012 to 2013, when he was sacked on 17 June after much scrutiny. Neeld currently serves as the Head of Player Development at the Essendon Football Club.

Neeld, originally from St Joseph's Football Club, started his football career with Geelong. He spent four seasons with Geelong and had his only full season in 1991, when he played 21 games, three of which were finals. 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.

Shortly after his retirement as an Australian Rules Football player, he was appointed the new head coach of the Ocean Grove Football Club in the Bellarine Football League, taking over from Brendan McCartney (who had won four premierships in the previous six years, and later coached the Western Bulldogs). As coach of Ocean Grove, Neeld steered the club to a further four successive premierships from 2000 to 2003. He then moved to the higher level Geelong Football League, for a two year term as coach of perennial finalist, and his junior club, St.Joseph's Football Club. After an unsuccessful initial season in 2004, he left with a year remaining on his contract, and spent the next 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.