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.
Premiership favourites St Mary’s (1st, 12-1) could be without star duo Sam Bourke and Paddy Dowling until just before the finals due to injury.
Bourke has a shoulder issue and Dowling a groin problem.
The Saints have made three changes for the meeting with St Albans (8th, 4-9) at Anthony Costa Oval.
Hamish Bourke is being managed, with Ryan Pendlebury returning from coaching duties with Geelong’s AFLW team, and Mackenzie Butcher and Nick Dowling recalled from the reserves.
The Supersaints have been forced into seven changes.
Matt McKenzie has returned to the WAFL, while co-captain Jacob Russell, Tom Gunther, Harrison Howarth and Noah Cockerell are injured.
Joel Grigsby has entered the concussion protocol.
Joe Osborne and Ethan Guida are among the inclusions.
Newtown & Chilwell (2nd, 10-3) will have access to Noah Tullio for the first time in 2026 when it faces Grovedale (9th, 4-9) at Burdoo Reserve.
Tullio has played all 15 games for VFL premiership contender Werribee this year but has been left out of the Tigers team this weekend.
The Eagles will get back veteran swingman Braden Hocking and ruck Cam Wilkinson.
Logan Morey (back) is the only forced out from the team that smashed North Shore last week, with Jaxon Bruhn and Rory Diamond omitted.
Grovedale has also made three changes.
A broken wrist has ended the season of big man Cooper Leach, with Jack Caia (hamstring) and Bailey McDonald (unavailable) also missing.
They’ve been replaced by Ned Mahoney, Judah Green and Fin Kirsopp-Cole.
Leopold (7th, 7-7) has suffered a blow as it looks to keep its finals hopes alive for another week, losing three premiership players and a talented youngster among four changes for a must-win meeting with Bell Park (4th, 9-5).
Vice-captain Jett Matthews is suspended, Daniel Pitcher has entered the concussion protocol, Billy Ritchie is being managed, and Mason Williams was recalled to Geelong’s VFL team.
They’ve been replaced by Max Chambers, Oscar Morphet, James Peters and Anthony Tanner.
The Dragons have lost midfielder Hamish Lucas to a minor arm injury, with Lucas Stefanovski omitted.
Kobe George returns from injury, with Henry Mansfield to make his first senior appearance since Round 2 last year.
North Shore (11th, 0-14) has made four changes as it faces another tough challenge against St Joseph’s (5th, 9-5) at Plan Group Oval.
Nick Mitzithras is serving a one-match suspension for an incident in last week’s loss to Newtown & Chilwell, with Chase Johns, Declan Plozza and Cody Harrison omitted.
They’ve been replaced by Seth Talbot, Oscar McCausland, Jack O’Brien and Riley Cotter.
Joeys will be without Mal White, who has been called up to VFL duty with Port Melbourne; Archer Chamberlain and Charlie Gray return to the Geelong Falcons; and Cal Mitchell and Max McLachlan are being managed with hamstring awareness.
Debutant Lachie Hocking, son of Geelong great Garry, is among the five inclusions.
Geelong West (12th, 2-10) has the bye
More to come
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