Neitz, speaking at the Junction Oval on Tuesday to announce he would be placed on the long-term injury list for the next eight matches due to a neck injury, said he hoped to play the last seven or eight matches of this season.
"My intention is to get myself right and playing again and get myself to a stage where I can be at the next stage of the Melbourne footy club and at the moment, the first part of the season hasn't been as we would've liked," Neitz said.
"But I've got no doubt that as the season progresses that our fortunes will start to change, and over the next eight weeks I want to help Dean where I can and help Chris where I can and help some of the younger players where I can.
"My leadership style and focus will have to change a bit and then [I want] to be able to get out there and be part of the Melbourne footy club turning the corner and changing."
Neitz, who saw a specialist about his neck condition in February, spoke about the injury which he aggravated against Carlton last Sunday, saying he was now comfortable with the decision that had been made in terms of the rest of the season.
"There was damage and a bit of inflammation around the facet joint in the neck and a bit of nerve stuff going on and minor irregularities with the disc, but nothing too major and that was the finding last time," Neitz said.
"So the basic diagnosis is that as far as long-term damage, I'm fairly safe to get out there and play AFL footy, but it's just a matter of managing the pain.
"At this stage, when I spoke to Dean [Bailey] and Chris Connolly and the coaching staff, it was about me being able to trust my body and coming off the ground against Carlton, after just a standard tackle … I just wasn't sure whether I could trust my body anymore.
"I had a really good discussion with Dean and with Chris about what that meant for me, so the option that we're going forward with is having some time [off] to give myself the best opportunity to get my body right and be able to finish off my career the way I'd like.
"It's a really fantastic option for me and a good outcome after carrying this injury for a while."
Bailey, who labeled Neitz a "great captain, great player and great person", said the skipper had been "incredibly honest and upfront" about his injury situation. But ultimately, the first-year Melbourne coach was disappointed to lose his on-field leader.
"His leadership around the club will still be there obviously, but obviously his leadership on the ground will be sorely missed for the next eight weeks," Bailey said.
"The intention is when he comes back he'll fulfill his obligations and build on his games record and goals record for the remainder of the year, so we've got that to look forward to.
"We're going to miss him for eight weeks and it's not what just happens on the ground but his presence and his leadership and his work with our group has been outstanding, and continues to be even though he might not be playing with us."
Neitz said he did not regret playing on 2008, despite an injury-riddled season last year, adding that he entered this season with a "year-to-year proposition" philosophy. And he was emphatic in his reason for continuing in the latter part of this season.
"There has been some question about 'why go on' and 'why bother' … it's [so I can] still be there and still be involved with the club when it's not in such a great position and that's [the message] for me and our supporters and for every Melbourne person out there - is to stay involved," Neitz said.
"The club's not in a great position right at this point in time, but we will get better and we will survive and thrive in this competition, but we need all hands on deck at the moment and that's what I'll be doing over the next eight weeks - getting myself into a position where I can get on the ground and help out my teammates."
As for the 2009 season and beyond, Neitz said coaching was not high on his agenda at this stage.
"I'm not sure about coaching aspirations at this point in time," Neitz said.
"I've got a few other things on my plate. I've got a small business that I've been working on over the past little while, so I've been getting that off the ground and I'll spend a bit more time developing that."
