WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - ALEX NEAL-BULLEN

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Yeah, Robert Neal.

Played for Geelong moons ago.

A third of ANB's name is Neal and he happened to be in Geelong, isn't it obvious CB, you !diot.

How Stretch didn't get the nickname "Brownless" I will never know.

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

Ecery time I read SOS I want to vomit.

Please don't tarnish Billy with being named after a filthy Carlton player.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

How Stretch didn't get the nickname "Brownless" I will never know.

Haha.

I thought Rooke had a breakout game in the ruck.

It was one of the rare times I listened to the commentary. I think the only way Sandy Roberts can remember any of our players names is to give them some random association to a player from back when his memory was more reliable.

As for Dwayne... Still a [censored].

[CatFishPig 455]

Can someone explain "Scratcher" nickname?

I missed something there.

I prefer 2Dads

[monoccular 17,432]

"Very impressive reading of the play, and hard gut running such as we haven't seen in any player or any ability or seniority at MFC for a hell of a long time."

Bit harsh on Bail monoccular, as he is the epitome of gut running and has often been the player on the end of a long chain to score in the goal square.

Come to think of it, I think ANB is the replacement/upgrade for Bail. Can run all day with the difference that he is actually skilled

OK. Perhaps I should have added ........ with the finishing skills to hurt the opposition

But still, IMO, remarkable vision and work from a second gamer, especially one who many regarded after his first as not nearly ready

[jnrmac 20,108]

I thought his nickname was Nibbles....

[Devil is in the Detail 883]

Does this remind anyone of ANB sometimes

[Moneider96 1,045]

Does this remind anyone of ANB sometimes

hhahaha, ye with the mouth open all the time. I noticed that too.

[mo64 5,875]

I think he may be good, but only one of his three goals show real class (the snap), with the other two kind of lucky (Jack Watts brain fade and a cheap push in back when he wasn't close to contesting the mark).

I though Stretch had a better game, with his solid passing especially to Howe for his two goals, and his shot for goal in the last.

I like ANB's moxy though and hope he continues to develop.

I thought the same thing. Stretch displayed all the attributes of a solid midfielder, whereas ANB's good work was primarily as an opportunist small forward. Don't be misled by the 3 goals, his field kicking still needs a bit of work. Mid to long term, I see ANB as a genuine inside mid, not the role that he played against the Cats.

[Nasher 33,616]

I thought the same thing. Stretch displayed all the attributes of a solid midfielder, whereas ANB's good work was primarily as an opportunist small forward. Don't be misled by the 3 goals, his field kicking still needs a bit of work. Mid to long term, I see ANB as a genuine inside mid, not the role that he played against the Cats.

Can anyone who was at the game give us some insight as to where on the field ANB lined up when he was on, mostly? On TV he seemed to be playing as a forward, but then again in the goal where he received the handball over the top, a minute earlier he could be seen running along side Lumumba on the half back flank.

I guess I'm trying to work out of the above quoted dismissal of scoring 3 goals is reasonable. If he was playing the 'role' I expected - starting at half-forward and running through the middle, then I'd say 3 goals is an excellent return and nothing to be sneezed at. If he was playing as a stay at home opportunistic forward perhaps that reduces the weighting of it, albeit only slightly.

I'd also point out he only played 74% TOG which was lower than everyone except than the sub and the subee.

[ManDee 7,162]

I thought the same thing. Stretch displayed all the attributes of a solid midfielder, whereas ANB's good work was primarily as an opportunist small forward. Don't be misled by the 3 goals, his field kicking still needs a bit of work. Mid to long term, I see ANB as a genuine inside mid, not the role that he played against the Cats.

mo, I am happy to be misled by any player that kicks 3 goals every week. We could do with three of four of them don't you think? Huge upside with these young guys.

[mo64 5,875]

mo, I am happy to be misled by any player that kicks 3 goals every week. We could do with three of four of them don't you think? Huge upside with these young guys.

I doubt that he'll ever kick more than 20 goals in a year, let alone 60. I agree that ANB has huge upside and looks like a potential 150+ gamer, but as a genuine midfielder, not a goal kicking half forward. The absolute best small forwards struggle to kick 50 goals a season, so to expect ANB to kick 3 goals a game regularly is ridiculous.

ANB and Matt Jones were able to get off the chain and kick goals because their direct opponents (Taylor and Enright) gave them no respect, and zoned off on them. If we weren't so dominant at the stoppages, I suspect that ANB and M. Jones' impact would have been limited. Stretch on the other hand won his own ball and was efficient with his disposal. That's why I rate his game more highly than ANB.

[Adam The God 30,286]

Can anyone who was at the game give us some insight as to where on the field ANB lined up when he was on, mostly? On TV he seemed to be playing as a forward, but then again in the goal where he received the handball over the top, a minute earlier he could be seen running along side Lumumba on the half back flank.

I guess I'm trying to work out of the above quoted dismissal of scoring 3 goals is reasonable. If he was playing the 'role' I expected - starting at half-forward and running through the middle, then I'd say 3 goals is an excellent return and nothing to be sneezed at. If he was playing as a stay at home opportunistic forward perhaps that reduces the weighting of it, albeit only slightly.

I'd also point out he only played 74% TOG which was lower than everyone except than the sub and the subee.

He was starting at CHF on the edge of the centre square. What are they calling those guys? Inside sliders? Watts was doing the same thing. It was used to isolate Spencer or Gawn and get an extra man in at the centre stoppages. Didn't need them in the end to win the ball, but they certainly pressurised the opposition and clogged up space. So essentially he did find himself up the ground a couple of times in that role and it was an excellent return. Edited June 26, 2015 by AdamFarr

[ManDee 7,162]

I doubt that he'll ever kick more than 20 goals in a year, let alone 60. I agree that ANB has huge upside and looks like a potential 150+ gamer, but as a genuine midfielder, not a goal kicking half forward. The absolute best small forwards struggle to kick 50 goals a season, so to expect ANB to kick 3 goals a game regularly is ridiculous.

ANB and Matt Jones were able to get off the chain and kick goals because their direct opponents (Taylor and Enright) gave them no respect, and zoned off on them. If we weren't so dominant at the stoppages, I suspect that ANB and M. Jones' impact would have been limited. Stretch on the other hand won his own ball and was efficient with his disposal. That's why I rate his game more highly than ANB.

mo, I don't think he will kick 3 every week. He could have had 5. M Jones ignored him and he missed one. I must say I was impressed with what he added to the side. Opposition sides will need to watch him, the more players we have like that the better for all the players. Go deees!

Edit: fix typo + add missing word

Edited June 26, 2015 by ManDee

[Grimes Times 1,278]

I thought his nickname was Nibbles....

Nibbler

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

Nibbler

Gonna assume that has nothing to do with him doing industrial sized dumps and everything to do with his name.

Would be pretty funny though if it was the futurama thing.

[Machsy 2,858]

He was starting at CHF on the edge of the centre square. What are they calling those guys? Inside sliders? Watts was doing the same thing. It was used to isolate Spencer or Gawn and get an extra man in at the centre stoppages. Didn't need them in the end to win the ball, but they certainly pressurised the opposition and clogged up space. So essentially he did find himself up the ground a couple of times in that role and it was an excellent return.

Yeah, that was pretty much it.

Does anyone now see what I meant when I said he reminds me of Dane Swan..?

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Yeah, that was pretty much it.

Does anyone now see what I meant when I said he reminds me of Dane Swan..?

The 100 metre run to get on the end of a Joe the goose was a bit Swannish.

Alex Scratcher-Swan-Neal-Bullen it is then.

[Adam The God 30,286]

Yeah, that was pretty much it.

Does anyone now see what I meant when I said he reminds me of Dane Swan..?

A couple of his hard ball gets were Swanesque, but what exactly is it that reminds you of Swan? He doesn't seem to have that burst of pace that Swan used to have. He has an eye for goal though, which I really like in a contested ball player.

[monoccular 17,432]

Yeah, that was pretty much it.

Does anyone now see what I meant when I said he reminds me of Dane Swan..?

hell of a lot better looking!

Haven't seem him live, and as others have pointed out one cannot see any players positioning and off ball work on TV.

Edited July 5, 2015 by monoccular

[dazzledavey36 55,001]

He looks a whole heap more solid then the skinny little midfielder i saw playing for SA 12 months ago.

[What 18,810]

Early days still, but did anyone have any inkling after seeing him at Casey or in Under 18''s that he would be a goal sneak at AFL level?

Seems to have come from nowhere. Love this kid.

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

Liking what I see so far. His set shot reminded me of Bartel, so calm and assured.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,862]

Didn't the draft experts say he was a steal at pick 40? Touted to go in the 20's.

Couldn't be more pleased with a 3 gamer at this stage, and Brayshaw was pretty pleasing. Love how he genuinely knows how to kick a sausage for someone so inexperienced.

[Demon Disciple 12,180]

Does this remind anyone of ANB sometimes

reminds me more of the Scott brothers.