FORMER star Melbourne on-baller Gerard Healy has described the club's current midfield as the worst he has ever seen, and declared coach Mark Neeld has just two weeks to save his job.
The Demons suffered a 90-point thrashing at the hands of Fremantle on Sunday, their eighth loss in nine matches this season.
Continuing an ongoing trend, Neeld's inexperienced midfield struggled to win enough of the ball – only Jeremy Howe and Jordie McKenzie gathered more than 21 disposals, while 12 Dockers players passed the same mark.
As a result, Melbourne could generate only 25 forward 50 entries for the entire match.
With games against Hawthorn and Collingwood in the next fortnight ahead of the club's mid-season bye, Healy - who went on to win a Brownlow Medal with the Sydney Swans after leaving the Demons - said it was crunch time for the under-pressure coach.
"They were horrible ... they were absolutely horrible," Healy said on radio station 3AW on Monday night.
"They were, on show, the worst midfield I have ever seen.
"Something has got to give at that club, and if the decision hasn't already been made, the coach has just two games left to get some improvement against Collingwood and/or Hawthorn.
"If not, it will be bye for the players and 'bye-bye' for the coach.
"They're bankrupt on the field and they've got to make a move before they are bankrupt off it.''
Neeld has maintained belief in the face of the ongoing pressure, stressing his team is on the right track and needs time to develop.
Healy played 121 games for Melbourne between 1979 and 1985, winning the club's best and fairest award in 1984.
He crossed to the Sydney Swans in 1986, going on to play a further 104 games and win the 1988 Brownlow Medal.
Healy's brother Greg, a former Melbourne captain, is the Demons' current football director.
