Mark Neeld says a range of factors led to him extending his tenure as South Barwon for another three years, while also confirming one of local football’s worst-kept secrets.
The former Melbourne AFL coach, who is in his fourth season with the Swans, agreed to a three-year contract extension last month, keeping him at McDonald Reserve.
But not before considering an offer to return to Bellarine club Ocean Grove, whom he guided to four consecutive premierships from 2000-03.
“I’ve got unbelievable lifelong friends that are starting to get back involved with the club,” Neeld told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary.
“Was it a consideration to coach Ocean Grove? Absolutely, it was a consideration to think through that.
“We spent a long, long time in Ocean Grove… we lived there, our kids grew up there, (and) they all played netball for the club.
“I played for the club, coached the club. For all intents and purposes, we would refer to that as our home club, as a family.
“So, there’s always going to be that attraction.
“I’d like to think on both sides it was a very respectful discussion. ‘Shermo’ (South president Tim Sherman) knew that I was having a bit of a chat to Ocean Grove and South Barwon were absolutely fantastic through that.”
Neeld admits when current Swans captain Matt Caldow first approached him in late 2022 about coaching, he didn’t expect to be tied to the club until the end of the decade.
“Not even close,” Neeld said.
“I can remember Matt Caldow, who knocked on the door and said, ‘Listen, I’m playing at South Barwon (and) we need a new coach’.
“My answer was ‘That’s nice’. And he said, ‘Would you like it to be you?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not’.
“We had a couple more conversations, caught up with ‘Shermo’, got a full understanding of what ‘Shermo’ and Travis Agg, at that point, wanted for their club and (I) said, ‘Oh, yeah, I can play a part in that’.
“And that part was, ‘Listen, we’ve lost our way a little bit. We’ve got a really young group, can you work with them over time and get them in a position to see if they can threaten to get back in the finals?’.
Neeld didn’t muck around getting South Barwon playing finals, featuring in consecutive grand finals in 2023-24 before running into the Garry Hocking-inspired Leopold juggernaut.
Despite 12 wins and a draw in 2025, the Swans narrowly missed September action last year.
However, they are well-placed to finish inside this year’s top five as they chase a first premiership in 13 years.
A win over Colac on Saturday would give South a 12-point gap on the Tigers with both clubs having three matches to play in the final four rounds.
Sam James and Jack Driver have been recalled after stints in the reserves, with Zach Stevens returning to Geelong VFL duty and Jamison Hallam omitted.
The Tigers have lost co-captain Adam Garner to a hamstring injury suffered in last week’s win over Leopold.
It is hoped he’ll return for the clash with St Albans following next week’s bye.
Veteran Kane Smartt is among those named on an extended interchange bench for Colac, which could slip two games behind fifth place with a loss.
Geelong West (12th, 2-10) has the bye
More to come
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