Demons swoop on Craig

Updated September 29, 2011 14:36:51

Melbourne has landed another big fish for 2012, recruiting former Adelaide coach Neil Craig as director of sports performance.

According to a club statement, Craig's role will be to "provide leadership, strategic direction and management support across all aspects of the football department" and he will be answerable to chief executive officer Cameron Schwab.

Craig, who was Adelaide's fitness coach during its premiership years of 1997 and 1998, was head coach for seven yearns until his resignation in July.

The 55-year-old's experience in sports science and coaching led to several clubs showing interest in his services, including Brisbane and Richmond.

"I am convinced through my dialogue with Cameron Schwab, (football director) Garry Lyon and the board, that the Melbourne Football Club is serious about becoming a high-performance football club," Craig said in the statement.

"I love the history of the Melbourne Football Club.

"When I walk through the MCG and look at the honor boards, I see that the Melbourne Football Club started this game, wrote the rules and have produced some all-time great coaches."

The Demons have already recruited former Collingwood midfield coach Neeld as their new senior coach and fitness guru Dave Misson has crossed to Melbourne from St Kilda.

Todd Viney, who took over from the sacked Dean Bailey as caretaker coach during the season, will stay with the club as player development and strategy general manager.

"In Mark Neeld I see a coach that has a clear vision and I wanted to be part of this coaching group that will work really hard to give the members and supporters what they have been craving for," Craig said.

Neeld praised Craig's appointment.

"I have said from the outset that we must demand to have the very best people at this club and the prospect of Neil Craig in this role was a big enticement in my decision to take the senior coaching role at Melbourne," he said.

The Crows said they supported Craig's move.

"It's the right decision for both parties and follows much discussion with Neil about what's best for him, and what would or wouldn't work at our club as an immediate, past senior coach," Crows chief executive officer Steven Trigg said in a statement.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted September 29, 2011 14:28:06

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Craig tells Crows fans to hang on

Posted June 18, 2011 12:06:00

Adelaide coach Neil Craig has told the club's fans to hang on for a scary ride as the Crows try to rebuild their side into being finals contenders.

The Crows opened up like world-beaters in their round 13 AFL clash with Western Bulldogs at Docklands on Friday night, kicking six goals to grab a 22-point lead at quarter-time.

However Craig's inexperienced side made a variety of skill and concentration errors to score only four goals after quarter-time, losing 14.16 (100) to 10.10 (70).

It was Adelaide's ninth loss from 12 games this season, increasing the pressure on the 55-year-old mentor to hold his job for 2012.

Craig said the Crows became loose around the stoppages and showed the type of inconsistency that can plague a young side.

"It's an exciting challenge to build this team but it will be scary for our supporters for a period of time," Craig said.

The Crows coach said half his side had yet to play 40 games.

"It's not an excuse, but you've got to understand what those guys are going through," he said.

"Their capacity to sustain an effort is not there yet. They're not capable yet, not for four quarters. After a period of time, the work-rate just becomes too great.

"It's an inexperienced team that I think is showing some really good signs.

"The positive is for me I saw some really high-level football in the first quarter. That means this group can do it.

"Let's see it maybe for a full game. That's what we're going to push towards ... because it will come.

"The sooner we can uphold our end of the bargain as a playing group and as a coaching group, and keep pushing them hard and improve their performances, the more joy we can bring them (fans)."

Craig led the Crows to the finals in his first five full seasons as coach before Adelaide fell to 11th spot in 2010. He said he was facing a new type of challenge with stars like Brett Burton and Simon Goodwin now retired.

Asked if fans of the two-time premiers could cope with the lack of success during a rebuilding phase, Craig said bluntly: "they are going to have to".

Craig said he could not put a time-frame on when the Crows would be a finals force again.

"I don't know. It's a new experience for me at this level to coach this profile of a group (with a lot of inexperienced players)," he said.

Craig said onballer Rory Sloane suffered a corked thigh but had battled on well and should be fit to play against competition leaders Geelong at Kardinia Park next Saturday.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000, vic, fitzroy-3065

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Eade, Craig vow to fight for their jobs

Updated June 16, 2011 14:57:00

Besieged coaches Rodney Eade and Neil Craig have vowed to fight for their jobs on the eve of their potentially career-defining AFL encounter.

Eade's Western Bulldogs and Craig's Adelaide Crows meet at Docklands on Friday night with the tenure of both coaches under threat.

The clubs have just three wins each but Eade, whose contract expires at season's end, scotched speculation he would quit if the Bulldogs lost to the Crows.

"I'm going to stick through," Eade said.

"If the club thinks it's better that way (quitting) and you get a tap on the shoulder well, fine, you do what is best for the club.

"But from my point of view I'm here for the long haul."

The Bulldogs, beaten preliminary finalists in the past three seasons, have slid to 13th spot, one position above the under-performing Crows.

Craig says speculation about his future will remain until the Crows consistently won matches.

"I try not to make it a distraction because I can't afford to," Craig said.

"You are not immune to it because you know it's there.

"But you need to develop the tools to keep it at bay so the noise doesn't get in to take your focus away from what you're meant to do."

Preseason, Craig's contract - also due to cease at season's end - was replaced when he was made a member of Adelaide's staff.

Crows chairman Rob Chapman, in rare public comments this week, said Craig had "unequivocal" support of the club's board.

"I don't need to take heart (from Chapman's comments) because I am in constant communication with those guys, that was probably more for outside our club rather than for me," Craig said.

"I haven't got an unconditional job here, I haven't got a job for life.

"I have great trust that the footy club will make the best decision for the footy club in terms of my situation here.

"And I mean that in both ways - if they think I need to continue in this job and I'm happy to do it, they'll tell me that; if they think I need to finish this job for whatever reason, they will tell me that.

"And that situation can happen very quickly, they can get a pen and go 'zap' and it can finish tomorrow with minimal disruption and minimal cost to our footy club."

While Craig believes the Crows' poor form makes talk of reaching the finals redundant, Eade says the play-offs for the Bulldogs effectively start on Friday night.

"We have just got to win and if you win, you can roll on to next week, and we're going to try to win as many games as we can," Eade said.

"Even if it's mathematically impossible at any stage not to make the finals, we're still going out to win as many as we can."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, vic, footscray-3011

First posted June 16, 2011 13:43:00

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Intent the key for Crows: Craig

Adelaide coach Neil Craig likens the Crows' form slump to being stuck in the mud.

The Crows crashed to heavy losses against lowly Brisbane and North Melbourne in the past fortnight, slipping to 14th position entering their home fixture on Saturday against West Coast.

"Clearly the last two weeks we have been spinning the wheels a bit," he said.

"So we need to get some more traction and start to move forward again."

Craig says the recent defeats were alarming for a lack of intent from his players.

"That has been the most disappointing aspect in the last two games and where I personally have great empathy for our supporters," he said.

"Because up until then we were doing some pretty good things, moving forward - not necessarily the scoreboard ticking over the way we would have liked, but we were doing some good things."

Craig says aggressive intent will be required from the start against the rejuvenated Eagles, perched in sixth spot with six wins for the season.

"We will need to be because one statistic about West Coast is their first quarters are very, very good and their contested ball in the first quarter is as good as any in the competition," he said.

"So if we're not, we will pay a big price."

Much of Craig's week has been focused on his misfiring midfield brigade, frequently getting hammered at the crucial contested ball.

"We have a real good close look at that," he said.

"Some of it is about game knowledge ... but that is not the major concern.

"A lot of it is about intent, the mental intent - nowhere near fierce enough, and that is an area we can improve overnight."

Craig recalled ruckman Shaun McKernan and utility Andy Otten for the home fixture, dropping tapman Brad Moran and forward Ricky Henderson.

The Eagles have been strengthened by the return of key trio Daniel Kerr, Brad Ebert and Sam Butler and Craig believes the Western Australians can no longer be deemed surprise packets of the season.

"I don't think they are now because it has been consistent for the year," Craig said of the Eagles.

"We're halfway through the year and their performance has been consistent and I think you can trust West Coast with what they are going to deliver."

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Craig in it for the long haul

Neil Craig wants to coach Adelaide for the long haul, saying he is enjoying the role more than ever despite the AFL club's current struggles.

Craig acknowledged "huge pressure" on himself but said on Thursday he was determined to coach the Crows for "as long as I can".

Craig was due to fall out of contract at season's end but struck a unique agreement with the Crows where he has been placed on the club's staff.

Under the deal, Craig can continue with Adelaide in some capacity even if sacked as coach - but he said on Thursday that may not necessarily hold true.

"My coaching contract can end very quickly with the flick of a pen," Craig said on Thursday.

"That is well documented ... that is the way it should be and I'm really comfortable with that.

"If that happens, there is also a possibility that I can continue with the club in some role.

"But if either party thinks that is not appropriate, that won't happen."

Craig maintained he had never enjoyed coaching more despite Adelaide's lowly ladder position, 13th with just three wins from nine games.

"One of the reasons for that is the quality of this group, and I mean that, I have never enjoyed it more," he said.

"I think this group is going to go a long way.

"Can I guarantee a grand final win? Of course I can't do that.

"But I think they are going to be a very, very successful playing group over the years and I want to coach them as long as I can with the way I feel at the moment.

"And it's important for the club to know that from me.

"But clearly, as (St Kilda coach) Ross Lyon mentioned a few weeks ago, boards make the appointment of coaches.

"Now it's a two-way process to a certain extent.

"What I am saying at the moment, if you ask this side of the ledger, I have never enjoyed it more.

"Is there pressure? Absolutely there is, there is huge pressure but there always has been on this club from day one.

"I'm enjoying it like I have never enjoyed it before and the club has been really supportive of me, totally supportive ... but in the end, unless I make a decision first, it will be the board that makes that decision."

Asked if he was in it for the long haul, Craig replied: "I love it, yeah."

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Crows immature, says coach Craig

Updated May 30, 2011 12:37:00

Frustrated Adelaide coach Neil Craig blasted his players as immature after their 40-point collapse to unfancied Brisbane on Sunday.

Craig was abused by angry Crows supporters as he left Football Park following Brisbane's turnaround 15.11 (101) to 8.13 (61) triumph.

Craig conceded the heat would rise on him after a meek loss left Adelaide's season in tatters with six losses from nine games.

"I am not here for social approval," Craig said.

"I'm here to do a job with this team and be very strong with this team and expect this team to perform at a high level ... I'm not backing off on that, I ain't backing on that - very high standards stay.

"And if that puts pressure back on me, so be it ... but I ain't backing off."

Craig described the loss as worse than Adelaide's 96-point flogging by Melbourne three weeks ago.

"We don't really understand, as a group, what creates success," he said.

"I thought we played today as if it was just going to happen, that is how it looked to me, and that is a very immature approach."

The Crows were in control when skipping to a two-goal lead at quarter-time.

But Brisbane then booted 13 goals to three in a commanding period which laid the platform for consecutive victories.

Inspired by roaming utility Mitch Clark (24 disposals, eight marks, two goals) and a special from prime mover Simon Black (32 touches), the Lions cracked open the game in the second term courtesy of an Ashley McGrath cameo.

McGrath kicked three goals and set up another in a 17 minute spree which changed the tune of the match.

McGrath ultimately finished with four goals and fellow small forward Todd Banfield kicked three as the Lions buried some of the pain from seven straight losses to start their season.

Brisbane prevailed despite captain Jonathon Brown, in his second game back from an eight-week facial injury lay-off, not kicking a goal.

"Maybe if there has been a benefit of the fact that Browny hasn't been around, it means we have had to find goals from everyone else," said Brisbane coach Michael Voss.

"Maybe his absence has let other people grow ... hopefully as a growth in the team, we have seen something."

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker sprained an ankle and was sidelined the second half, ending his woeful week which included criticism for drinking beer at the footy last weekend when out of the Crows side.

Walker is in doubt for Adelaide's away trip to meet North Melbourne next Sunday while the Lions host Sydney on Saturday night.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted May 30, 2011 12:23:00

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Crows immature, says coach Craig

Updated May 30, 2011 12:37:00

Frustrated Adelaide coach Neil Craig blasted his players as immature after their 40-point collapse to unfancied Brisbane on Sunday.

Craig was abused by angry Crows supporters as he left Football Park following Brisbane's turnaround 15.11 (101) to 8.13 (61) triumph.

Craig conceded the heat would rise on him after a meek loss left Adelaide's season in tatters with six losses from nine games.

"I am not here for social approval," Craig said.

"I'm here to do a job with this team and be very strong with this team and expect this team to perform at a high level ... I'm not backing off on that, I ain't backing on that - very high standards stay.

"And if that puts pressure back on me, so be it ... but I ain't backing off."

Craig described the loss as worse than Adelaide's 96-point flogging by Melbourne three weeks ago.

"We don't really understand, as a group, what creates success," he said.

"I thought we played today as if it was just going to happen, that is how it looked to me, and that is a very immature approach."

The Crows were in control when skipping to a two-goal lead at quarter-time.

But Brisbane then booted 13 goals to three in a commanding period which laid the platform for consecutive victories.

Inspired by roaming utility Mitch Clark (24 disposals, eight marks, two goals) and a special from prime mover Simon Black (32 touches), the Lions cracked open the game in the second term courtesy of an Ashley McGrath cameo.

McGrath kicked three goals and set up another in a 17 minute spree which changed the tune of the match.

McGrath ultimately finished with four goals and fellow small forward Todd Banfield kicked three as the Lions buried some of the pain from seven straight losses to start their season.

Brisbane prevailed despite captain Jonathon Brown, in his second game back from an eight-week facial injury lay-off, not kicking a goal.

"Maybe if there has been a benefit of the fact that Browny hasn't been around, it means we have had to find goals from everyone else," said Brisbane coach Michael Voss.

"Maybe his absence has let other people grow ... hopefully as a growth in the team, we have seen something."

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker sprained an ankle and was sidelined the second half, ending his woeful week which included criticism for drinking beer at the footy last weekend when out of the Crows side.

Walker is in doubt for Adelaide's away trip to meet North Melbourne next Sunday while the Lions host Sydney on Saturday night.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted May 30, 2011 12:23:00

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Walker's drink small beer to Craig

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Dropped Adelaide forward Taylor Walker having a beer at the footy is no big deal to Crows coach Neil Craig.

Craig says he will speak to the talented 21-year-old, who was caught by television cameras drinking in the stands with mates at a curtain-raiser to Saturday's AFL match between Port Adelaide and Fremantle at Football Park.

There was speculation it would anger the Adelaide hierarchy or Walker's Crows team-mates, particularly as the forward is rumoured to be headed to expansion club Greater Western Sydney next season.

But Craig played it down, saying provided Taylor was not drunk, the only issue was how the episode was perceived publicly.

"My understanding is he was at the footy having a beer, I don't think he was intoxicated," Craig said.

"If he was at home having a barbecue with his mate and having a beer it wouldn't be an issue would it?

"I think it's a perception, isn't it.

"Symbolism or perception, I would think that's probably the biggest issue."

While Walker was named as an emergency for the Crows' clash with Collingwood on Sunday, it had already been decided he would not travel with the team and he played for his SANFL club Norwood on Friday night.

He was the Crows' leading goal-kicker after his six AFL games this season, and has kicked hauls of seven and five goals for Norwood since being dropped.

But Craig said he had been demoted as there were areas of his game that needed work.

The defensive aspects are understood to be the main issue, as Walker has laid just two tackles in six games this year.

But the coach said he had taken his axing in the right manner.

"I can't question his attitude at our football club and his work ethic and what he's trying to really take on board, the things that we're asking him to do," Craig said.

He said he had not asked Walker about the GWS speculation.

"That will unfold as time goes by, it puts a huge amount of pressure on players from speculation," Craig said.

"Still, the best policy for me is to be up front with your football club, if (players) feel confident to do that and feel safe enough to do it, then that puts everything to bed."

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Walker's drink small beer to Craig

Posted May 22, 2011 20:13:00

Dropped Adelaide forward Taylor Walker having a beer at the footy is no big deal to Crows coach Neil Craig.

Craig says he will speak to the talented 21-year-old, who was caught by television cameras drinking in the stands with mates at a curtain-raiser to Saturday's AFL match between Port Adelaide and Fremantle at Football Park.

There was speculation it would anger the Adelaide hierarchy or Walker's Crows team-mates, particularly as the forward is rumoured to be headed to expansion club Greater Western Sydney next season.

But Craig played it down, saying provided Taylor was not drunk, the only issue was how the episode was perceived publicly.

"My understanding is he was at the footy having a beer, I don't think he was intoxicated," Craig said.

"If he was at home having a barbecue with his mate and having a beer it wouldn't be an issue would it?

"I think it's a perception, isn't it.

"Symbolism or perception, I would think that's probably the biggest issue."

While Walker was named as an emergency for the Crows' clash with Collingwood on Sunday, it had already been decided he would not travel with the team and he played for his SANFL club Norwood on Friday night.

He was the Crows' leading goal-kicker after his six AFL games this season, and has kicked hauls of seven and five goals for Norwood since being dropped.

But Craig said he had been demoted as there were areas of his game that needed work.

The defensive aspects are understood to be the main issue, as Walker has laid just two tackles in six games this year.

But the coach said he had taken his axing in the right manner.

"I can't question his attitude at our football club and his work ethic and what he's trying to really take on board, the things that we're asking him to do," Craig said.

He said he had not asked Walker about the GWS speculation.

"That will unfold as time goes by, it puts a huge amount of pressure on players from speculation," Craig said.

"Still, the best policy for me is to be up front with your football club, if (players) feel confident to do that and feel safe enough to do it, then that puts everything to bed."

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000

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Media Call: Neil Craig

Published:Thursday, May 19, 2011 4:51 AESTExpires:Wednesday, August 17, 2011 4:51 AEST

Adelaide coach Neil Craig said he believes ruckman Sam Jacobs will face a big challenge in the Crows' clash with Collingwood on Sunday.

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Press Call: Neil Craig

Published:Saturday, May 14, 2011 8:23 AESTExpires:Friday, August 12, 2011 8:23 AEST

Adelaide coach Neil Craig said it was important for his players to respond after last week's embarrassing defeat but was not getting carried away with victory over Gold Coast.

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Craig not doubting himself

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Adelaide coach Neil Craig says he is not doubting himself and refuses to believe his club is in rebuilding mode.

Craig's Crows host Gold Coast on Saturday after suffering a 96-point drubbing by Melbourne last start.

The loss came two weeks after Craig declared the current batch of players "the most exciting group I think this club has ever had".

Craig conceded on Friday such public comments raised expectations of the Crows, in 12th spot with two wins - the same amount as Gold Coast.

"Maybe we are our own worst enemy to a certain extent," Craig said.

"My comments about this being an exciting group ... sometimes that gives supporters enormous expectation.

"And when they see a loss like that (last week) they say 'give me a break, what is going on here Craig?'."

Craig said he had analysed his methods in the wake of the Melbourne loss.

"You need to reflect and ask questions of yourself, no doubt, I think every coach should do that," he said.

"But no self doubt.

"Is there things I could do better internally, yeah ... but in terms of self doubt, in terms of what we're doing, the way we're doing it, no."

Despite contrary evidence, such as fielding up to 10 players with less than 20 games experience, Craig refused to acknowledge the Crows were rebuilding.

"I don't go down that path because I think it gives too many people too many outs," he said.

"If I said to this group 'don't worry about this year, you're three years away' I don't know what our supporters would think of that.

"They might say 'that is a bit of reality Neil' but if I was a player, I wouldn't want to be told that.

"And sometimes when you say that, that becomes your standard and everything else drops down.

"So I don't believe it and I won't do it, and if that means that more pressure comes back to me, well so be it."

Craig dumped three players including forward Taylor Walker for the Football Park encounter with a Suns outfit he said were "not the side that people think they are".

"Half their side are going to be experienced AFL players of good quality," Craig said of the Suns.

"Underneath that, you could argue, is the best underage talent in Australia, and it makes a really dangerous side.

"They are going to accelerate really quickly."

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Bailey, Craig push for consistent efforts

Updated May 9, 2011 09:01:00

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey left the public jubilation to others after his side's 96-point AFL demolition of Adelaide.

While president Jim Stynes described the 22.17 (149) to 8.5 (53) annihilation on Sunday at the MCG as their best win in three years, Bailey was immediately looking to next Saturday.

The Demons now play North Melbourne at Docklands and Melbourne is yet to beat the Kangaroos or win at that ground since Bailey took over in 2008.

The superb upset win over the Crows came after 10 days of intense media criticism, following the 54-point capitulation to West Coast in round six.

Bailey is out of contract at the end of this year and so the Eagles loss intensified speculation about his future.

But Bailey is well-known for an even public persona - win, lose or draw.

When asked about how he felt after Sunday's win, Bailey put all the praise on his players.

He also stressed that Sunday's triumph meant nothing unless they backed it up.

"Next week is the challenge - we played well today, we had an even contribution across the board from every player and we expect that every week," he said.

"The game doesn't change much.

"The next game is always the great challenge and the week after that will be another challenge and the week after that, will be another challenge.

"And you know what happens the week after that? Another challenge."

While the vast gulf of a 96-point margin separated Bailey and Neil Craig, the Crows coach was in a similar frame of mind as he discussed their greatest losing margin since 2004.

The Crows under Craig have rarely let themselves be opened up and torn apart like they were on Sunday.

Only a week ago, they had beaten St Kilda in a riveting contest.

"I saw a performance last week against a hardened AFL club ... that I liked very much," Craig said.

"So I'm saying well, why not again, and again, and again, and again? - and that will be the standard.

"In this game you're going to learn how to handle failure and adversity if you're going to be any good and we've got something to handle just at the moment in the short-term.

"It's as bad as we've put on display for a long time in our footy club, so we need to regroup pretty quickly."

Gut check

In contrast, captain Brad Green said the steamrolling is a first step to regaining respect and payback for some past thrashings.

"When you go through these tough weeks, you have a bit of time to think about things and what it really means to you to play football," Green told reporters after showing his emotion in the big win by grapping his jumper after booting a goal.

"Where I am in my footy career, I just want this club to go well and succeed and push forward.

"I don't want to sit there and be treated like we've been treated for the past week."

Green put the difference between the 54-point loss to West Coast at Subiaco and the 96-point win over the Crows to attitude.

"It's a mindset, it's an intent, it's a want," he said.

"It's a want to play contested footy, it's a want to chase and defend, and we brought that today.

"We played four quarters of footy and we said to the boys at three-quarter time, we wanted to keep grinding away, grinding away.

"We've gone over to Football Park and they've given us a pounding a few times and we just wanted to show them on our home turf what it's like."

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted May 8, 2011 20:11:00

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Craig denies he's lost support of players

Posted May 10, 2011 13:20:00

Adelaide coach Neil Craig denies he has "lost" his players in the wake of their 96-point AFL drubbing by Melbourne.

The Crows languish in 12th spot with two wins for the season and further injury concerns heading into a home match against Gold Coast on Saturday.

Asked if he had lost his players, Craig said: "Not at all.

"As a coach, you always ask that question," he told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

"But this playing group, no.

"Have I asked the question? Absolutely - of course you do.

"You sort of ask that after every loss.

"But I'm really confident that I know where this playing group is going."

Main midfielder Scott Thompson is battling a calf injury while fellow onballer Patrick Dangerfield was concussed during a loss to the Demons which Craig described as "one of our worst efforts for many years".

The defeat was Adelaide's heaviest since 2004 when walloped by 141 points by Brisbane, four games after Craig was appointed caretaker coach.

The Melbourne thrashing, coming a week after Adelaide's fighting win over last year's beaten grand finalist St Kilda, puzzled Craig.

"It would be lovely to know the answer," he said.

"I guess the key thing for us was it was pretty much through the whole group.

"That is probably of one our worst performances for many years and I certainly didn't see it coming ... the players are bitterly disappointed with what we served up on the weekend.

"Our challenge now is to get back and try and recapture some of the form we have been able to demonstrate this year."

-AAP

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Craig to coach Crows next year at least

Posted April 21, 2011 06:14:00

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg has guaranteed Neil Craig will remain coach of the AFL club for the 2012 season at a minimum.

The Crows have started the season poorly, with only one win in their first three matches, which included a fade-out loss to Port Adelaide last round.

In an unprecedented move, Craig was taken off contract and placed on staff before the start of the season, removing the safety net of a fixed term as coach.

But Trigg said he was still certain to be coaching the club in 2012 and most likely much longer than that.

"Neil will certainly be coaching the Adelaide Crows beyond this year," Trigg told the AFL Footy Show on Thursday night.

"In fact, he will be coaching us for as far as the eye can see.

"We assess every part of our club all the time and we have a long-term perspective of where we are at.

"There are so many things to consider, not just the outcome of a football match."

The Crows came 12th last season, missing the finals for the first time in Craig's six full seasons in charge.

Adelaide plays Carlton at Docklands on Saturday night.

-AAP

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Craig to coach Crows next year: Trigg

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg has guaranteed Neil Craig will remain coach of the AFL club for the 2012 season at a minimum.

The Crows have started the season poorly, with only one win in their first three matches, which included a fade-out loss to Port Adelaide last round.

In an unprecedented move, Craig was taken off contract and placed on staff before the start of the season, removing the safety net of a fixed term as coach.

But Trigg said he was still certain to be coaching the club in 2012 and most likely much longer than that.

"We put him staff because we've got a developing list and we intend to see it through with him," Trigg told 891 Breakfast with Matthew Abraham and David Bevan this morning.

"No-one gets the job forever, but we're not going to turn him over on the back of a loss or a couple of bad losses, we've got a bigger picture in mind and we are very clear where we are going with it and that he's the right fellow for the job."

The Crows came 12th last season, missing the finals for the first time in Craig's six full seasons in charge.

Adelaide plays Carlton at Docklands on Saturday night

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