MARK Neeld is coaching "better than he ever has," Melbourne defender Colin Garland says.
In Neeld's second year as senior coach, the Demons have had to deal with a pre-season interrupted by a tanking investigation, the resignation of CEO Cameron Schwab and a combined losing margin of 306 points from their first three games.
Melbourne will also be investigated by ASADA and the AFL, after it became apparent club doctor Dan Bates had sought advice about the club's supplement program from controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank.
The drama follows an equally tumultuous 2012, when the Demons had numerous off-field dramas and also struggled on the field.
But Garland told AFL.com.au Neeld's focus had not wavered, with the defender praising his coach's ability to protect the playing group.
"In a weird sense he's been better than he ever has been. He's given the blokes a licence to just go out and play," Garland said.
"We have got a lot of external pressures and Mark's really taken the shackles off the playing group.
"He has probably taken a lot of criticism that the playing group probably deserved, especially in the first couple of weeks.
"Even in the latest issues that we're having as a club, Mark's really shielded the playing group."
Melbourne broke through for its maiden 2013 win against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday, erasing a 19-point three-quarter time deficit to win by 41 points.
Garland, who is part of Melbourne's nine-man leadership group, said the club's leaders realised they needed to take ownership for the team's performance, in particular in that last quarter.
"We've probably had some criticism that we've had no real on-field leadership for the last couple of years now, so it was good that the guys can do that and learn that they are capable of doing that," he said.
Staring down the barrel of another humiliating loss against the Giants, the Demons reeled off 12 goals to two, and in the process achieved the highest scoring quarter in the club's history.
"That last quarter was something out of the box," Garland said. "We didn't see it coming."
"It definitely meant a lot. Just to break that duck egg was the main relief."
Ben Guthrie covers Melbourne and Collingwood news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie
