Alex Neal-Bullen

[DeeSpencer 23,060]

2 hours ago, Yung Blood said:

His gut running at the end to seal it was elite.

He's been such an important player all year. Sick of people seeing a player make a few mistakes and therefore call for them to be axed. Happens far too often.

It's not a few mistakes though. It's repeated fumbling, running in circles, being unable to break tackles to dish off a handball and missed goals. I think in the Cats game he single-handedly killed about a number of good scoring chances with the common mistakes he often makes.

In my opinion there's a valid argument that ANB would do well with another 10 or so VFL games in the midfield getting 35 touches working on how to get out of congestion, honing his stoppage work, using his left sided skills and also nailing some goals on the run and set shots. 

At his best he's an important player, out of form he isn't. And if we had better options there'd be no harm in calling for them to come in. Maybe if Kent or Vanders were 100% fit at some stage over the last 6 weeks ANB might even have been dropped. I support the team not individual players. 

[nosoupforme 3,085]

4 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Who comes in for Smith? He is very much finding his feet at the top level but the cupboards ain’t overflowing gun half backs at present. 

Well for one he will never be a gun half back as there are no issues there.  I will start from the Crows game and keep it very short. He had 9 possessions all so called kicks . Efficiency rate at 33.3% spoiled 2 of his team mates going for a mark resulted in a crows goal.Kicked it on the full, no one in kooee  no pressure . Watch the replay and more.   Geelong game   please just as worse . AND ON AND ON.  If he is in this week fine. He would have to play well to keep his spot. He won't last long. I don't think he will prove me wrong.I have never ever been critical of our players until he came along.However he does my head in. He has    played a total of 9 games and   was a 3 year non registered elevation rookie. A basketball background. Height 191 and  88kgs. Frosty wasn't looked at to replace Lever at the time.Smith didn't earn his spot in the senior side, there was no form line for his elevation. that's bizarre........Goody  cost us the St kilda game with Petty and Smith on the half back lines One 18 year old overawed and one basketballer. No idea of the game plan. We hardly switched the play to move the ball quickly into the forward line with them there. I hope he proves me wrong however l doubt it. 

There is a Mature rookie player and stands at 194cm and w 95kgs and can play and has the form line and is a CHB.  one way or another he will play in the finals and Casey is a lock in at the minute. 

[Cards13 9,117]

1 hour ago, nosoupforme said:

Well for one he will never be a gun half back as there are no issues there.  I will start from the Crows game and keep it very short. He had 9 possessions all so called kicks . Efficiency rate at 33.3% spoiled 2 of his team mates going for a mark resulted in a crows goal.Kicked it on the full, no one in kooee  no pressure . Watch the replay and more.   Geelong game   please just as worse . AND ON AND ON.  If he is in this week fine. He would have to play well to keep his spot. He won't last long. I don't think he will prove me wrong.I have never ever been critical of our players until he came along.However he does my head in. He has    played a total of 9 games and   was a 3 year non registered elevation rookie. A basketball background. Height 191 and  88kgs. Frosty wasn't looked at to replace Lever at the time.Smith didn't earn his spot in the senior side, there was no form line for his elevation. that's bizarre........Goody  cost us the St kilda game with Petty and Smith on the half back lines One 18 year old overawed and one basketballer. No idea of the game plan. We hardly switched the play to move the ball quickly into the forward line with them there. I hope he proves me wrong however l doubt it. 

There is a Mature rookie player and stands at 194cm and w 95kgs and can play and has the form line and is a CHB.  one way or another he will play in the finals and Casey is a lock in at the minute. 

Sorry who comes in for Smithy?

[Demon trucker 1,731]

31 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Sorry who comes in for Smithy?

Not this game but next round against Sydney hunt to come in needs a least 1 game in the VFL, his been back in full time training for 2 weeks, need to bring in something different for the last few rounds and finals.

[Optimus D 283]

12 minutes ago, don't make me angry said:

Not this game but next round against Sydney hunt to come in needs a least 1 game in the VFL, his been back in full time training for 2 weeks, need to bring in something different for the last few rounds and finals.

Not sure we will  see Hunt until he can make an impact at Casey. Has missed a fair bit of footy and needs to build some match day fitness and regain his touch. I wouldn't be rushing him back in too much at stake with these last few rounds.

[deanox 8,516]

7 hours ago, Watson11 said:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-20/improving-demon-just-keeps-on-running

He runs hard both ways as well. 

"As a testament to his standing within the team, Neal-Bullen has been given a leadership position in the forward line, with Misson saying the unofficial title was indicative of his attitude."

Can we stop slagging him off now?

[nosoupforme 3,085]

2 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Sorry who comes in for Smithy?

If we go with 2 talls down back in Frost and Omac then Hibbo comes in for Smith in the next week or so.. If we go with 3 talls then  Declan Keilty could be his replacement. Age 23 matued player and has the feel for the game.

[What 18,810]

Will be interesting to see where he finishes in the B and F.

He can be frustrating for sure with some of the skill errors, but obviously does a lot of things the coaches love.

[Older demon 2,166]

Note ANB scored a vote from one of the coaches on saturday night. Obviously a different opinion to some on this topic.

 

[pineapple dee 2,892]

I'm sick of the negative group think on Alex NB in these forums. Nibbler is not perfect but he's had a consistent year and has made a tremendous contribution to the success of the team this year. He's there for a reason and he has a lot to offer. You naysayers can pull your heads in.

[layzie 28,519]

29 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

I'm sick of the negative group think on Alex NB in these forums. Nibbler is not perfect but he's had a consistent year and has made a tremendous contribution to the success of the team this year. He's there for a reason and he has a lot to offer. You naysayers can pull your heads in.

Yep, definitely proven his worth. Surely we can look past a few gaffes here and there. 

[green_machine 36]

You are all wrong about ANB.

He has the capacity to be elite.  He is only 22 improving every year.  More importantly he has elite vision.  He has the ability to spot the short option. 

Currently his execution lets him down but he will tidy that up and become elite assist player

[Cards13 9,117]

9 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

If we go with 2 talls down back in Frost and Omac then Hibbo comes in for Smith in the next week or so.. If we go with 3 talls then  Declan Keilty could be his replacement. Age 23 matued player and has the feel for the game.

Obviously Hibbo comes back in when fit, until then Smith is on par with the best avail. Wagner is the only one who he may be changed out with but he is yet to convince at the top level and has been overlooked when Hibbs went down. 

Understand the want for “better” in each position on the field but as I said previsouly there isn’t much stock on the farm at present. Smith is growing and I would be surprised if he is dropped this week or before Hibbs is ready.

Anyway wrong post for it, well done ANB, he keeps putting himself into the right spots during games because of his work rate.

Edited July 30, 2018 by Cards13

[Young Blood 1,975]

16 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

It's not a few mistakes though. It's repeated fumbling, running in circles, being unable to break tackles to dish off a handball and missed goals. I think in the Cats game he single-handedly killed about a number of good scoring chances with the common mistakes he often makes.

In my opinion there's a valid argument that ANB would do well with another 10 or so VFL games in the midfield getting 35 touches working on how to get out of congestion, honing his stoppage work, using his left sided skills and also nailing some goals on the run and set shots. 

At his best he's an important player, out of form he isn't. And if we had better options there'd be no harm in calling for them to come in. Maybe if Kent or Vanders were 100% fit at some stage over the last 6 weeks ANB might even have been dropped. I support the team not individual players. 

The good outweighs the bad. I think most on here agree with you that he needs to tidy up his disposal no doubt (65% disposal officiency is just not good enough I agree). But he's one of our most important players and is a barometer for our forward half pressure. ANB played for a long time at VFL level playing in the midfield working on his contested game, he put together a couple of seasons of really consistent form, built his tank and now he's an elite runner who provides the best forward pressure in our team. He is still learning to play as a forward as its not his natural position and while the glaring issue is his disposal he simply gives you too many other attributes to be dropped for players like Kent or AVB at this stage of the season.

Note he is top 20 for goal assists just behind guys like Dusty, Franklin and Cripps. Along with Melk and Clarry he is providing our forwards many opportunities to score. 

[nosoupforme 3,085]

1 hour ago, Cards13 said:

Obviously Hibbo comes back in when fit, until then Smith is on par with the best avail. Wagner is the only one who he may be changed out with but he is yet to convince at the top level and has been overlooked when Hibbs went down. 

Understand the want for “better” in each position on the field but as I said previsouly there isn’t much stock on the farm at present. Smith is growing and I would be surprised if he is dropped this week or before Hibbs is ready.

Anyway wrong post for it, well done ANB, he keeps putting himself into the right spots during games because of his work rate.

Ok  C13 we all have our opinions and that is fine with me, however l just had to vent it.  With the old saying, stay tuned.

I respect your opinion.

 

[Demon17 4,532]

12 hours ago, Older demon said:

Note ANB scored a vote from one of the coaches on saturday night. Obviously a different opinion to some on this topic.

 

Lets not forget his excellent gut run from centre to  25 m to receive petraccas handball  for sealer. Foresight and composure. No one got near him.

[Smokey 4,112]

Critiquing each player as if they should all be elite superstars in every category is misguided at best. As far working class players go, ANB is up there with the best.  

[layzie 28,519]

1 hour ago, Demon17 said:

Lets not forget his excellent gut run from centre to  25 m to receive petraccas handball  for sealer. Foresight and composure. No one got near him.

Absolutely, his ability to cover the park should not be underestimated 

[dazzledavey36 48,646]

Sorry but im copping the hits on this.

GTFO you spud! I counted at least 7 times he coffed it straight to a swans jumper. Shat himself in the middle when Petracca set himself up with a beautiful kick, and then 5 minutes to go we had all the momentum and yet he bombs it straight into no one inside our forward 50 but Aliir ready to sweep up.

Fumbles, turnovers, lack of awareness, momentum killer you name it.

Sorry but as I've previously state, he'll get found out in big pressure games and today was perfect example.

[wizardinoz 2,013]

I don't give a stuff if he runs 50km's in a game & I'm over his soft efforts. Should be playing at Casey next week.

[IvanBartul13 2,564]

I agree100%.  Should say that credit is due for his work ethic and love of the jumper!  But that is not enough. he is the worst player ive seen play for Melbourne to play the percentage volume of games he does and today he reprised his north melbourne role of last year - by destroying countless gilt edged scoring opportunities.  Only plays decently when we are absolutely dominant and most of it ia fluke IMO

[Docs Demons 1,656]

5 minutes ago, wizardinoz said:

I don't give a stuff if he runs 50km's in a game & I'm over his soft efforts. Should be playing at Casey next week.

I will apologise in advance but ANB along with Pedders, Spargo, Garlett, Hunt should not be in a AFL side. VFL players at best. Again we lost this at selection. Pedders, Hunt in for first games in a while against a desperate Swans outfit did not work. Vince would have been good today with his positioning and kicking.

For goodness sake they had 2 down in 1st quarter and we were absolutely useless. I'm sick of it and players that think they are good need to actually show us they can play under pressure. Got 2 games to do it but I doubt it.

[Deesprate 1,160]

27 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Sorry but im copping the hits on this.

GTFO you spud! I counted at least 7 times he coffed it straight to a swans jumper. Shat himself in the middle when Petracca set himself up with a beautiful kick, and then 5 minutes to go we had all the momentum and yet he bombs it straight into no one inside our forward 50 but Aliir ready to sweep up.

Fumbles, turnovers, lack of awareness, momentum killer you name it.

Sorry but as I've previously state, he'll get found out in big pressure games and today was perfect example.

I normally read these post but had to sign up to totally endorse these comment. One player does not lose you games but this guy is indicative about everything that is wrong with this club.

[Queanbeyan Demon 5,882]

16 minutes ago, goodoil said:

I agree100%.  Should say that credit is due for his work ethic and love of the jumper!  But that is not enough. he is the worst player ive seen play for Melbourne to play the percentage volume of games he does and today he reprised his north melbourne role of last year - by destroying countless gilt edged scoring opportunities.  Only plays decently when we are absolutely dominant and most of it ia fluke IMO

[he is the worst player ive seen play for Melbourne to play the percentage volume of games he does]

Obviously haven't watched many Melbourne games over the years !!! hehehe.

[Redleg 37,478]

42 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Sorry but im copping the hits on this.

GTFO you spud! I counted at least 7 times he coffed it straight to a swans jumper. Shat himself in the middle when Petracca set himself up with a beautiful kick, and then 5 minutes to go we had all the momentum and yet he bombs it straight into no one inside our forward 50 but Aliir ready to sweep up.

Fumbles, turnovers, lack of awareness, momentum killer you name it.

Sorry but as I've previously state, he'll get found out in big pressure games and today was perfect example.

Yep. Terrible, just plain terrible.