The 2013 Melbourne Football Club season was the club's 114th year in the VFL/AFL since it began in 1897.
Mark Neeld entered into his second year as senior coach of Melbourne. After a horrid season in 2012, Neeld made a vast amount of list changes in the 2012 AFL draft. These changes included the addition of experienced and key position players from other clubs such as Shannon Byrnes, Tom Gillies, Chris Dawes, David Rodan and Cameron Pedersen. Melbourne also added five new players from the National Draft, two new players from the Rookie Draft as well as one new player from the Mini-Draft who will play in 2014. Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove continued their roles as co-captains of the football club.
With no Friday night games and only three home games against fellow Victorian sides at the MCG, Melbourne faced a financially challenging fixture. At the same time Melbourne received a simple fixture when compared to other teams by playing fellow-cellar dwellers in 2012 , and twice and all 2012 finalists with the exception of once. Melbourne hosted nine home games at the MCG, a sold home game against at TIO Stadium in Round 17 and a home game against at Etihad Stadium in Round 18.
Melbourne endured one of their worst seasons in the club's 155-year history and arguably their worst in the modern era. They finished with only 2 wins (their least since the 1981 season) and a percentage of 54.07% (their worst since the 1919 season). It was also the worst seasonal performance from an established club since the demise of Fitzroy in 1996.
2013 list changes
2012 free agency Player Date Free agent type Former club New club Compensation Ref Shannon Byrnes 4 October 2012 Unrestricted None Brent Moloney 12 October 2012 Restricted 3rd round Jared Rivers 18 October 2012 Unrestricted 3rd round Tom Gillies 13 November 2012 Delisted None
2012 trades Trade gainedTraded fromTrade lost Dominic BarryPick 2 (mini-draft)Pick 20 Pick 3Pick 13 Chris DawesPick 58 Pick 20Pick 45 David Rodan Pick 88 Pick 88 Cale Morton Cameron PedersenPick 74 Jordan GysbertsPick 63 Pick 53Pick 73 Stefan Martin
Retirements and delistings Player New club League ReasonRef Brad Green – assistant coach AFL Retired Liam Jurrah South Alice Springs CAFL Resigned Ricky Petterd AFL Delisted Matthew Bate Essendon reserves VFL Delisted Jamie Bennell AFL Delisted Lucas Cook North Ballarat VFL Delisted Jai Sheahan Geelong reserves VFL Delisted Leigh Williams VFL Delisted Kelvin Lawrence Peel Thunder WAFL Delisted
Mini-draft Overall pick Player State Position Team from League from 2 Jesse Hogan Forward Claremont Football Club WAFL
National draft Round Overall pick Player State Position Team from League from 1 4 Jimmy Toumpas Midfield Woodville-West Torrens SANFL 2 26 (F/S) Jack Viney Midfield Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup 3 48 Dean Kent Forward/Midfield Perth WAFL 3 52 Matt Jones Midfield Box Hill Hawks VFL 4 68 Dean Terlich Defender Norwood SANFL 4 71 (RP) Daniel Nicholson Midfield/Defender AFL 4 72 (RP) Michael Evans Midfield AFL
Rookie draft Round Overall pick Player State Position Team from League from 1 3 Nathan Stark Midfield Glenelg SANFL 2 19 Mitch Clisby Midfield/Defender North Adelaide SANFL
2013 squad
2013 season
Pre-season
NAB Cup
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
NAB Challenge
Week 4
Home and away season
Overview The 2013 season for Melbourne turned out to be disastrous to such an extraordinary magnitude that they required a complete refurbishment of their board and football department. Melbourne began the season as marginal favourites at home against fellow cellar dwellers . However they displayed such visible problems with their ball use, work rate and turnover rate in the midfield that they were eventually shut out of the game and hammered by 79 points. After a week of media scrutiny over their Round 1 performance, Melbourne was expected to put in place a more spirited performance against . For the opening proportion of that game, they appeared to have lifted their intensity. However, after Essendon scored consecutive goals, Melbourne's problems from Round 1 occurred again and they were eventually slaughtered by 148 points. This was their greatest losing margin at the MCG in their entire VFL/AFL history. Fan backlash resulted from this enormous loss and the next week on 9 April, Melbourne made the decision to sack their CEO Cameron Schwab.
After a week of team bonding in Sorrento, Melbourne appeared to have turned around their form in Round 3 against , only trailing by 10 points at half time. However, by the time West Coast kicked consecutive goals in the second half, Melbourne would again shut down and eventually get hammered by 94 points. With an average losing margin of 108 points in the first 3 rounds, Melbourne headed into their Round 4 clash against recent expansion team at the MCG, in what was a must win game for Mark Neeld so that he may have maintained his coaching role. In a game of sub-standard football from both sides, Melbourne looked to be set to lose at 3 quarter time trailing by 19 points however managed to blow the game away with their highest ever quarter score in VFL/AFL history of 12 goals and 2 behinds to win by 41 points. In subsequent rounds Melbourne's form didn't show any improvement from Round 4 however as the pressure for Mark Neeld to keep his job oscillated out of control. They got thrashed by 60+ points against in Round 6, in Round 7, in Round 9, in Round 10 and in Round 11.
During Melbourne's bye, 2 major personnel changes would occur to the club. On 13 June, Melbourne president Don McLardy resigned and was replaced by vice-president Peter Spargo as an interim-president. 3 days later after weeks of pressure Mark Neeld was finally sacked from his senior coaching position and replaced by former senior coach Neil Craig. Craig's first game coaching Melbourne was against fellow cellar dwellers . Despite Melbourne controlling more possession of the ball with more inside 50s, they still lost by 35 points due to their lack of forward pressure. Melbourne however finally broke through for only their second win of the season against by 3 points. This came after Melbourne nearly conceded a 44-point lead midway through the final quarter by allowing the Western Bulldogs to kick the last 7 goals of the game.
After a gutsy performance against the 2012 premiers where Melbourne went down by 31 points, they would finish their miserable season by falling back into the shut-down habits they experienced at the start of the season. This included a 68-point loss to in Round 16, a 122-point loss to in Round 18, a 37-point loss to bottom of the ladder Greater Western Sydney in Round 19, a 95-point loss to Fremantle in Round 21 and a 68-point loss to Adelaide in Round 22. Melbourne would finish the season with a woeful 2 wins and 54.07%.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Round 22
Round 23
Ladder
Ladder breakdown by opposition Opponent Played Won Lost Drew Premiership points Points for Points against Percentage (%) 2 1 1 0 4 231 227 101.76 2 1 1 0 4 190 207 91.79 2 0 2 0 0 169 216 78.24 1 0 1 0 0 85 116 73.28 1 0 1 0 0 72 106 67.92 1 0 1 0 0 69 104 66.35 2 0 2 0 0 131 204 64.22 1 0 1 0 0 60 121 49.59 1 0 1 0 0 83 177 46.89 1 0 1 0 0 52 120 43.33 1 0 1 0 0 54 133 40.60 1 0 1 0 0 48 143 33.57 1 0 1 0 0 39 122 31.97 1 0 1 0 0 30 98 30.31 2 0 2 0 0 78 263 29.66 1 0 1 0 0 36 184 19.56 1 0 1 0 0 28 150 18.67 Total 22 2 20 0 8 1455 2691 54.07
Football Department and Board Restructure 2013 was 's worst season in a horrible string of seasons dating back to the 2007 AFL season. As a result, many Melbourne personnel who were part of the Jim Stynes-led board or football department originating back to 2008 either resigned or were dismissed from their positions. Because many personnel were in the midst of their contracts, they required large pay-outs which Melbourne couldn't financially cope with.
On 19 February 2013, Melbourne were found not guilty from their tanking scandal originating from 2009. However, they received a $500,000 fine as the employers of the General Manager of Football Operations Chris Connolly and former Melbourne senior coach Dean Bailey, both of whom were found guilty in the investigation. Chris Connolly, who was still working at the Melbourne Football Club at the time the suspension was handed out received a 12-month suspension which prevented him from being involved at any club until 1 February 2014.
On 10 April 2013, four days after Melbourne's 148-point loss against , Cameron Schwab was asked to leave from his position as CEO after he originally had his contract renewed for a three-year term from 27 August by Don McLardy. Cameron Schwab accepted, and received an approximate $250,000 payout. Peter Spargo then took over as interim CEO before former Essendon CEO Peter Jackson took over the role on an interim basis for six months from 1 May 2013.
On 31 May 2013, Chris Connolly was given a two-year contract extension despite being in the process of serving his suspension.
On 3 June 2013, after a marathon scheduled board meeting in which Mark Neeld was speculated to be sacked from his role as Melbourne senior coach, Peter Jackson announced his findings from his first month as operating CEO of the club. He then proceeded to announce his recommendations to the club and agree to a contract extension until the end of 2014 to help carry out those recommendations. Neeld survived this board meeting.
On 6 June 2013, former Victorian Premier and former President Jeff Kennett claimed that he had been approached by the Melbourne Football Club board to take over as Melbourne President and encouraged on supporters to call and extraordinary general meeting to oust Don McLardy.
On 14 June 2013, Peter Jackson and Don McLardy made a plea to the AFL to receive emergency funding in order to reshape the entire board and football department on the condition that they provided a detailed plan that would be strictly carried through. This included the removal of several key personnel, the prevention of Jeff Kennett's campaign as Melbourne president from becoming successful and the prevention of Stephen Dank's alleged text message to Melbourne's Football Department as part of Essendon's drug scandal from having any immediate impact on the funds received.
Also on 14 June 2013, Don McLardy announced his resignation as Melbourne Football Club president as well as the president of the Reach Foundation. Peter Spargo took over the role as Melbourne's interim president. In addition, Stuart Grimshaw resigned from his role on Melbourne's board.
On 17 June 2013, Peter Jackson announced the immediate termination of Mark Neeld's role as Melbourne senior coach only eighteen months into his three-year contract. He received a payout of around $600,000. Former Adelaide senior coach Neil Craig would take over as Melbourne's interim senior coach for the rest of the season.
On 25 June 2013, Melbourne's list manager Tim Harrington would have his contract terminated as Peter Jackson also advertised the new role of General Manager of Football Operations.
On 26 June 2013, Melbourne's vice-president Guy Jalland announced his resignation from the board. 3 days later on 29 June 2013, Karen Hayes also announced her resignation from the board.
On 11 July 2013, Peter Jackson announced his intention to snare former Sydney Swans and 2005 premiership coach Paul Roos to become the new senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club from 2014 onwards. Paul Roos however claimed that he had not warmed up to the idea for a return to senior-coaching.
On 12 July 2013, former player and Bernie Naylor Medallist Glen Bartlett joined the Board of the Melbourne Football Club.