The four-time premiership mentor believes interviewing to appoint a senior coach is an “imperfect” process and the Demons would be better served with an experienced head.
Matthews most recently sat on the interview panel for the job won by Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson.
Neeld was one of three other candidates, the former Collingwood assistant taking the Melbourne job just days prior to the completion of the Crows' process.
"I would have thought a club should headhunt someone, that’s what works best,” Matthews said.
"The interview process to me is an imperfect way of appointing a coach. I’m not confident the interview process spits out the best candidate.
"You can coach a good game and/or you talk a good coaching game. I find the interview process to a little bit like that. It’s who looks like they can present themselves best in what is a performance.
"My small involvement with the interview process made me more question is this going to give (the club the right man).
"Mark Neeld interviewed fantastically. In other words, with whatever happened with Mark Neeld at Melbourne, he was very impressive in the interview process I attended."
The most recent coach to be poached by a rival club was Fremantle’s acquisition of then St Kilda coach Ross Lyon in September 2011.
"I just think any club should be trying to headhunt, ‘who’s the person we want and try and headhunt them’,"he said.
Matthews admitted he didn’t agree with the trend of unsuccessful sacked coaches not getting another opportunity as a senior coach.
"It’s quite ridiculous," Matthews said.
“I always feel you’re a better coach the second time around then you are the first time because you’ve got the benefit of the experience.
"They have to go for someone who’s coached before. I think Melbourne where they are at the moment is a club that a guy who’s never coached senior level before probably shouldn’t be taking over.
Matthews laughed off suggestions he would pursue the job and enter a 21st season as an AFL/VFL coach.
"No one's asked me and I'm not applying," he said. “I’ve had my time as coach and I’m happy to live the rest of my life with the coaching cap on.”
