Alex Neal-Bullen

[whatwhat say what 20,548]

Thread delivers(e)

[layzie 30,506]

He showed me tonight why he’s in the side. Pressure acts, good tackling, didn’t shirk the issue. 

Narrowly missed out on my player of the year votes. 

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Opened the thread expecting to read about how good he has been and how great it has been to see Nibbler turn his season around after looking devoid of confidence and lost earlier in the year

[Whispering_Jack 28,147]

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

I think I'll just leave this here. 

 

Fantastic running from ANB there - late in the game, he ran from where the stoppage took place to where he received the pass from Petracca. His opponent couldn’t stay with him.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,147]

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

No? If we make finals he simply cannot play. He will cost us.

Im not a Nibbler fan but tonight he put his body on the line and was important in laying tackles in tight, He was tackling his with intent tonight.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,147]

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

The exact moment the pressure valve went whoosh. Epic contest win by Hogan too who otherwise had a game to forget.

I take back every bad word ive said about J.Lewis stood up when we need somebody to get us going.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,147]

1 hour ago, MSFebey said:

ANB was one of 4 players I paid attention to tonight (usually a differ t group each week), thought he was fantastic and I actually do see his pressure acts, you won’t see them if you don’t watch closely and they won’t show up on the stats sheet but I can see the value in his team first attitude. 

He stood up tonight when it got tough. Ive been a ANB basher in past but he really got stuck in tonight, down and dirty nibbler.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,147]

1 hour ago, IWAP said:

I reckon Nibbler is a player you've got to see live to appreciate his full value. His running and pressue is absolutely first rate

So True, he stood out when it got tough.

[nosoupforme 3,085]

2 hours ago, M_9 said:

There's a couple worse than Nibbler.

I will give you one in Joel Smith I have no idea how he is getting a game if you watched the game you would understand Censored what was he doing out there. Goody is blind, However he is being carried.  If that was JW the supporters would be screaming. Watch the replay that's all l have to say. When you win everyone looks good even clangers don't stand out.

[Sir Why You Little 35,392]

28 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

I take back every bad word ive said about J.Lewis stood up when we need somebody to get us going.

J Lewis is ready for another tilt at September

He was huge tonight....

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,147]

5 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

J Lewis is ready for another tilt at September

He was huge tonight....

It looked that way tonight, long may it continue.

[Sir Why You Little 35,392]

3 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

It looked that way tonight, long may it continue.

He knows what needs to be done to get there

hopefully he is hungry for 2019 as well

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Dazzler nowhere near the worst poster on here. Can at least admit he was wrong and is happy for others to point it out. I'd be on here more often if there were more like him.

Having said that... this is a howler Daz. lol

[Deemania since 56 6,372]

2 hours ago, Mickey said:

I'll give dazzle a get out of jail free card with this. That was a bloody stressful game, not surprised it got the better of some of us.

Watched him at the game, tonight. Nibbler ran and ran, to provide enormous coverage on the Crows slipperies out to the flanks when noted players let them go to the abundant spaces. He slowed most of the Crows attack from Half Back through to their Fwd Line. His second half was really much better. I reckon that he did a good job of it, too - and may be a backup next year as a tagger alongside Harmes. I was really surprised how far Cheney has improved, dodging, twisting, changing direction and using his beefsteak to perfection hitting Demons hard, often and clearing the ball. His kicking is above average, now, too. He took over the fullback role well, from Talia - looking like a fit Ray Biffen in most things that he achieved. The real change in him is experience and confidence to do the hard stuff - as he promised as a Demon but didn't produce across a game - and to take unexpected marks for his limited height. Great game, great 3rd quarter but it looked a little like a re-hash of the Geelong game until we slowed the Crows down - they really were exhausted in the last quarter.

[Deemania since 56 6,372]

19 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

It looked that way tonight, long may it continue.

It did look like Lewis had found his mojo tonight. He looked very good in the fwd line and his long shots were terrific - true Hawthorn style from 50m. Overall, his kicking was fast, long and accurate; his passing was critically good.

[Deemania since 56 6,372]

33 minutes ago, nosoupforme said:

I will give you one in Joel Smith I have no idea how he is getting a game if you watched the game you would understand Censored what was he doing out there. Goody is blind, However he is being carried.  If that was JW the supporters would be screaming. Watch the replay that's all l have to say. When you win everyone looks good even clangers don't stand out.

JSmith does need a little polish on kicking, handball and passing - but his attack in packs and his hands/clearing were very good. He can certainly get up there to repeatedly spoil the opposition's big names! Tougher than his dad was, too. Keeps improving, game to game.

[Fork 'em 6,635]

3 hours ago, Mad_Melbourne said:

Has a very good game, but had a patch of football for 5-10, minutes that was absolutely dreadful

Can't fault his work ethic but he has horror patches most games with turnovers etc.
As for the sealer he got one over the top and was 20m out into an open goal.
Lets face it,  a goal chance with some pressure for ANB is a 50/50 proposition at best.
So people hanging their hats on the sealer are clutching.

 

Edited July 28, 2018 by Fork 'em

[Binmans PA 26,865]

His disposal and decision making is a real concern, but he's a trier, so he'll stay in the team and often get on the end of some goals out the back, due to his hard running. Still [censored] himself in the clinches though and did again tonight. However, did a bunch of really good things too.

[Uncle Fester 2,843]

Nibbler [censored] me off with that last goal. He had 15 seconds, and a clear run. Why didn't he run right to the goal square and boot a torp right into a Crows supporters face. Lazy, ANB. Very very lazy, and may cost us a finals spot.

 

[Binmans PA 26,865]

3 hours ago, Nasher said:

The exact moment the pressure valve went whoosh. Epic contest win by Hogan too who otherwise had a game to forget.

I was doing the standing fist pump right near the TV when they cut to Goody doing the same thing. Loved his passion tonight.

[layzie 30,506]

3 hours ago, Nasher said:

The exact moment the pressure valve went whoosh. Epic contest win by Hogan too who otherwise had a game to forget.

Best moment of the night. I felt my heart get a much needed sigh of relief when Hogan won the contest and the goal was just gravy. 

[DeeSpencer 23,715]

The most frustrating player on our list because he does so much that is very important with his huge work rate, but he's not quite fast or strong enough in the tackle to be a stand out defensive player. A yard quicker and a big stronger and he'd get a game every week purely on defensive chase downs and everyone would love him and excuse the errors with the ball.

But his work rate is equally impressive in attack as it is defending and that means he's getting a heap of the footy in space across half forward. 

No left foot, not even a left side really, slow to process the play, wonky kicking. His best move is the big 270 spin and kick that can be a huge weapon but is also totally unpredictable.

And he holds the ball low ready to kick so when he's tackled he can only drop if for a kick. Doesn't power through contract to give a handball.

Useful but infuriating 

 

[dazzledavey36 49,921]

Like a fine wine this thread...?‍♂️?‍♂️

Understandably not my finest work.. but i still have concerns with his disaposal and awareness.. especially these big games. 

Made some costly mistakes in my opinion, a couple of times last night he tried to take on the tackler and bite off more then he can chew, especially right near the goal square when he tried to run around a crow defender and just got tackled when he had time and a free player on the outside. Two minutes later later he tried to do the same in the back 50 and got pinged for holding the ball by Matt Crouch with a set shot on goal.

He needs to clean up his awareness and brain fades big time if he is to take the next step as a player and us moving forward. I don't want this costing us in big games.

In saying that, well done Alex on finishing off the game well.

[Fork 'em 6,635]

7 hours ago, Uncle Fester said:

Nibbler [censored] me off with that last goal. He had 15 seconds, and a clear run. Why didn't he run right to the goal square and boot a torp right into a Crows supporters face. Lazy, ANB. Very very lazy, and may cost us a finals spot.

 

Excellent point.
 Ram that thing home.

[Thehardtackler 785]

ANB has a brain. He learns from his mistakes. He will only get better. Glass is half full.