Alex Neal-Bullen

[deanox 9,931]

48 minutes ago, A F said:

I reckon a move like this foreshadows 12+ list changes.

Those already gone or seeking an exit and those likely to go from the main list are:

Jones, Kolodjashnij, Preuss, Tom McDonald, Oscar McDonald, Neal-Bullen, Jetta, Josh Wagner. You have to wonder about Hannan, one of our our mids (Harmes, Brayshaw or Viney) and Hore (who I don't personally don't rate).

Then there are those from the rookie list:

Bennell, Chandler, Corey Wagner and Dunkley.

We have to be a little careful of have experience drop out the bottom of our list, so whilst Jones should have retired at the end of 2018 IMV and Jetta looks done after this year, we may look to keep one or both on next year.

If we can get the currency to make some trades, I'd be looking at Gunston, Breust and Smith from Hawthorn. I'd be looking at Ben Brown, Polec and Higgins from North. I'd be looking at Hurley, Saad and Merrett from Essendon.

We need to be able to bring in 4 or 5 players that are going to be immediately best 22 and add them to May, Salem, Harmes (?), Petracca, Jackson, Viney (?), Lever, Brayshaw (?), Gawn, Oliver, Hibberd, Langdon, Melksham, Tomlinson, Rivers, Weideman, Fritsch and Pickett. If we can do that, it'll be a very fruitful offseason.

I wouldnt mind adding 2-3 senior players from other clubs if they will contribute as best 22 for 2 years and not cost the earth. 

Bringing in senior players will increase training standards, and also bring techniques, ideas and concepts that our players aren't currently exposed to. For example, a Gunstam, Breust or Browm should be able to mentor Weid and Fritsch, two players who don't have a senior forward to talk to.

[layzie 33,836]

Honestly I'd take a late 3rd rounder for him right now. Runs more than the boundary umpire and although not a brilliant kick not a shocking one but just doesn't get it enough. 

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,853]

What's he on?

[DeeSpencer 25,719]

1 hour ago, A F said:

If we can get the currency to make some trades, I'd be looking at Gunston, Breust and Smith from Hawthorn. I'd be looking at Ben Brown, Polec and Higgins from North. I'd be looking at Hurley, Saad and Merrett from Essendon.

We need to be able to bring in 4 or 5 players that are going to be immediately best 22 and add them to May, Salem, Harmes (?), Petracca, Jackson, Viney (?), Lever, Brayshaw (?), Gawn, Oliver, Hibberd, Langdon, Melksham, Tomlinson, Rivers, Weideman, Fritsch and Pickett. If we can do that, it'll be a very fruitful offseason.

Merrett seems unlikely and Saad is now a lot stronger on Carlton or staying per the latest reports.

I think one or two of the experienced players could be in play. 4 or 5 seems very ambitious. 

I can't see 12 happening either. If we were going to be that aggressive I'd imagine we'd start off with more than 3 delistings. I think the plan is to get whatever we can out of some depth types to get picks to trade and still give Jason Taylor a fighting chance with a few picks in the top 40. At the same time the salary cap gets a lighter year and we can be far more aggressive next year.

It was a crappy year to be a young depth player. With a real state league season next year we might find we've got a few handy players waiting to go. If that's the case the health of the list is looking far stronger than if we made big swings for ageing guys that might not work out. And if things are looking up next year then we've got Merrett and Kelly as free agent targets.

[Stein9193 129]

I'd like to know what the club even think of him, with his running ability why didn't they use him in more tagging roles?

[Left Foot Snap 2,424]

1 minute ago, Stein9193 said:

I'd like to know what the club even think of him, with his running ability why didn't they use him in more tagging roles?

I agree with this. Thought he would be an excellent target.

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,778]

Same age as Petracca who had a breakthrough season

I felt ANB was his most impactful at times this year (when he played), he got involved in a lot of scoring chains in the games late in the season in particular 

I feel that suspension ? and the shorter games and season may have had us miss out on some potential with him

I'd prefer ANB over a Spargo clogging a list spot (maybe even Hannan given injuries), I feel there is potential next year

[Turner 1,516]

3 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

I don't see any wisdom in trading him. I think his place in our best 25 is fairly solid, and the coaching group love his consistency. He isn't a player other clubs are dead hungry for (like Cameron, Saad etc...), but he isn't bad enough to delist and bring in a young bloke 2 years away from playing. 

We so often forget you actually need some ordinary, unnoticed foot soldiers to make up a really strong squad, and this bloke is one. 

best 25 isnt good enough, we need to be recruiting for the top 15 and everyone else drops a rung, for too long we've held onto fringe types. at other clubs 3/4 years is all u get to show something and tbf to him after 2018 he did but that was false hope and he hasnt had any influence on a games outcome since (pretty crucial for a forward) therefore he goes melky drops to 20-25 in the squad and we get a proper HF to come in and play week in week out and perform whether thats internally, draft or trade

[Turner 1,516]

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

It was a crappy year to be a young depth player. With a real state league season next year we might find we've got a few handy players waiting to go. If that's the case the health of the list is looking far stronger than if we made big swings for ageing guys that might not work out. And if things are looking up next year then we've got Merrett and Kelly as free agent targets.

it was actually a really good year, most sides were forced to debut and trial many more players than they wouldve ever imagined, did you see WCE midfield by round 16/17. unfortunately for us, we decided hannan, nibbler, hunt, smith, vanders should get 3rd, 4th, 5th bloody 8th chances to show any sign of talent as 23+yos rather than give debuts and games to our untried crop bedford (how can you fall off so far from a full preseason getting named round 1 to not another crack till the end) chandler, dunkley, jordon, sparrow, baker (sooner)

you didn't need to "play" your way into the seniors this year u just had to be available and we missed the chance to test players where others capitalised

Edited September 29, 2020 by Turner

[DeeSpencer 25,719]

29 minutes ago, Turner said:

it was actually a really good year, most sides were forced to debut and trial many more players than they wouldve ever imagined, did you see WCE midfield by round 16/17. unfortunately for us, we decided hannan, nibbler, hunt, smith, vanders should get 3rd, 4th, 5th bloody 8th chances to show any sign of talent as 23+yos rather than give debuts and games to our untried crop bedford (how can you fall off so far from a full preseason getting named round 1 to not another crack till the end) chandler, dunkley, jordon, sparrow, baker (sooner)

you didn't need to "play" your way into the seniors this year u just had to be available and we missed the chance to test players where others capitalised

We didn't have a run of injuries until later in the season. It might've been easier to get games but it was very difficult to develop playing occasional 12 a side scratch matches in various conditions. We originally took a smaller group to QLD as it was meant to be only for a month or so - which I think most people had no issue with - and then the rest had to catch up. Playing in smaller teams was always going to advantage the more seasoned guys, their athletic advantage would be emphasised in 12 on 12 instead of full vfl games.

Sparrow was one of the first non regular players in to the team then got injured. Jordon surely would've got a chance if not for his injury. Baker missed preseason and needed time to get fit. Bedford got rewarded in round 1 for his hard work over summer but he wasn't every good, by the time the season restarted Bennell, Jones and soon after Hannan were available. I'm ok with moving Nibbler on and giving Bedford more of a go once he's had another preseason but I'm not expecting much.

[Fat Tony 5,234]

I would look to trade ANB for Seedsman. 

[Canplay 634]

I would keep him rather than getting a speculative 3rd round pick -  think he can continue to develop, play a role as a defensive forward.

[spirit of norm smith 16,469]

I agree I would look to keep and I think he can be a handy player with his versatility.  However he is not best 22 and ranks around 24-26.  If injuries occur, he fits in as a handy player as cover.  
 

But it depends on whether he wants more games and game time.  I’m sure the Crows might offer a best 22 spot for him and his hometown may be an atttactive option. 

A pick around 40-45 would be likely.  Maybe we could get a future 2nd round pick.  We have him under contract so should hold the bargaining power. 

[Older demon 2,741]

The club were quick to return him to the team post suspension and his role is to play as a defensive forward, something he does better than Melksham. We have not idea of the role he is expected to play in the team and I wouldn't be trading him and would keep the changes to a minimum. Speculative 18 year olds after no under 18 comp is a bad idea as a replacement for a hardened body. 

It is all good and well to offload players but who are you going to replace them with? Players of the same ability? I hope not. If he sees opportunities elsewhere then by all means ask for a trade but pick 45 spare me the stats on the number of games 3 round picks average is woeful. We loaded up last year with 3 great picks consolidate this season and reduce list as per AFL and not renew contracts.

 

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,765]

As long as we're packaging up the picks for clear improvement in targeted areas, I'd be ok moving on any of these fringe players.

On the flipside, if we're just going to use the projected pick to draft a player at around the same mark, it's pointless. ANB is useful to us now. A pick 40 in the draft is ANB, 6 years ago.

[whatwhat say what 22,780]

16 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

As long as we're packaging up the picks for clear improvement in targeted areas, I'd be ok moving on any of these fringe players.

On the flipside, if we're just going to use the projected pick to draft a player at around the same mark, it's pointless. ANB is useful to us now. A pick 40 in the draft is ANB, 6 years ago.

it all comes to what we draft i guess; say it's the equivalent of rivers taken with pick 40 this year, then we're better off having that than nibbler

again, all comes back to looking at what we bring in vs what we lose in totality

anb is obviously best 26 for us - all comes down to the total of what we lose vs what we gain

Edited September 29, 2020 by whatwhatsaywhat

[dee-tox 4,835]

12 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

As long as we're packaging up the picks for clear improvement in targeted areas, I'd be ok moving on any of these fringe players.

On the flipside, if we're just going to use the projected pick to draft a player at around the same mark, it's pointless. ANB is useful to us now. A pick 40 in the draft is ANB, 6 years ago.

Exactly. 

If we can use him to bring in a first-18 player then well and good. Use him for a late draft pick. Na. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,592]

He's above the Wagners and Stretch and JKH from last year

He does his bit but not a player many of us are emotionally invested in.

Is Bedford etc any better... who knows

[dazzledavey36 54,956]

Much rather keep ANB and get rid of Melksham.

[Deemania since 56 6,654]

18 hours ago, The Lobster Effect said:

I feel like he's a whipping boy on this site but he generally plays his role ok.

He's one of the best endurance runners in the team from memory... 

That is true, LE. I still reckon, if he had been coached more appropriately, and if he had been developed more appropriately to extend his utility mobility, he could have been something very worthwhile. I still think - now that his kicking has improved in particular and he slots the occasional goal almost effortlessly - ANB is little more than depth for us; in fact, a very useful player. He is not a great tackler and is easily displaced when with the ball but upfield, no-one is doing anything for him to kick to on occasions. We should keep him  - very handy forward utility, for mine,

[Deemania since 56 6,654]

6 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Exactly. 

If we can use him to bring in a first-18 player then well and good. Use him for a late draft pick. Na. 

Keep him . OMac is the one to move to another club - fast as possible.

[Kent 2,911]

9 hours ago, Canplay said:

I would keep him rather than getting a speculative 3rd round pick -  think he can continue to develop, play a role as a defensive forward.

I would keep him  also.

He works hard puts pressure on and if he tidied up his disposal and finishing would be a keeper for me. 

Currently just outside the 22 but not that  far to preclude him playing a forward defensve role next year

[Lucifers Hero 39,916]

We have a few young guys with development still in them (and are also cheaper) who can cover ANB's roles.  After 6 years I would rather put time and experience into them and see what they can do. 

[DubDee 25,903]

I see ANB as a player we would keep but who is tradable for sure.  He is professional, the right age group. however his skill level is not good enough to play around the ball for long, too fumbly

there would be around 10-12 players that we would not trade.  the rest we would listen to offers.  guys like Pruess, ANB are certainly in the latter category and have some trade value for us to improve our list

[Young Blood 2,626]

2 hours ago, Kent said:

I would keep him  also.

He works hard puts pressure on and if he tidied up his disposal and finishing would be a keeper for me. 

Currently just outside the 22 but not that  far to preclude him playing a forward defensve role next year

Agreed. There are depth players I would be letting go before him. His attack on the ball and pressure is what provides opportunities across the ground. Hasn't done it consistently since 2018 which was his best season where he played every game. I think with a clear run at it he could get back to the numbers he was able to produce that season.

I think he's had a difficult adjustment to make while at Melbourne. Was drafted as a mid with a huge tank and performed consistently at Casey as a mid for his first few seasons (always in their best) but couldn't break into seniors due to our midfield depth. So he had to pivot and move to a small pressure forward role in order to try and carve out a place in the AFL. That would be so difficult for some players who have developed their game around contested midfield/ball magnet football. He's done a decent job of it.

I would be looking to trade/offload others first like Hunt. I think Nibbler who will be 25 next season has another notch to go up to with his game.