Jump to content

Alex Neal-Bullen


dazzledavey36

Recommended Posts

29 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Has been played out of position for years. he's a pure mid and has a high ceiling if given the chance.

You think the playing on ball he could compete with Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw (from us) or the equivalent first 4 from other clubs?

I don't. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd prefer hang on to ANB and trial him as a full time winger next season, he's got the endurance and running capacity to be a really dangerous endurance link up option for both attacking and defensive plays. 

his kicking is a tiny bit suspect, but i think he is improving in that space a bit as well. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm impressed with the loyalty of many on here.  

No doubt that ANB is someone who gives everything he has when out on the field. He runs hard, he's a team player and, as some have already said, his kicking has improved a little this year as well.

But I also think we're quick to forget that he does some simple things poorly.  He rarely gets to position in the forward line to crumb the ball.  He is a pretty average tackler, and he still gets the fumbles with the ball at his feet.  This is after six years in the system.

While I understand why some might want to hang on to him, I think we as a club need to move on from him so we can continue to look at ways of getting better.  If ANB is still someone hanging around the fringes in the coming years, then we haven't worked hard enough (or ruthless enough as Goody might say) in making the right decisions to help us as a footy club.

He's been handy depth, but I think the time is right to look at other options going forward.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I reckon he's underrated. Which is easy when nobody rates him.

You've got to have depth. He's not going to turn into Dustin Martin anytime soon but is handy enough. You can massacre the fringe players but who's going to replace them? If he reckons he can get a better run somewhere else then let him go, otherwise at least he's got a few years of experience on a random kid.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

I'm impressed with the loyalty of many on here.  

No doubt that ANB is someone who gives everything he has when out on the field. He runs hard, he's a team player and, as some have already said, his kicking has improved a little this year as well.

But I also think we're quick to forget that he does some simple things poorly.  He rarely gets to position in the forward line to crumb the ball.  He is a pretty average tackler, and he still gets the fumbles with the ball at his feet.  This is after six years in the system.

While I understand why some might want to hang on to him, I think we as a club need to move on from him so we can continue to look at ways of getting better.  If ANB is still someone hanging around the fringes in the coming years, then we haven't worked hard enough (or ruthless enough as Goody might say) in making the right decisions to help us as a footy club.

He's been handy depth, but I think the time is right to look at other options going forward.

I agree he definitely has deficiencies in his game. But I don't think tackling is one of them. His tackling has been down of late but he's definitely adequate in that area. Also just noting that tackling was down this year across all games due to various reasons.

I think last year he was disappointing but most of our squad was. This year he didn't get a good run at it with suspension and injury.

Some may forget he in 2018 he was:

- ranked top 5 for forcing turnovers (and scoring from them)

- ranked 10th in goal assists

- ranked 9th for total tackles inside 50

I know I'll be shot down for looking at numbers from two years ago but his 2018 season was statistically comparable to Dan Butlers this year. (yes I am aware he played more games but I image Butler's avg's staying the same if he were to continue into finals).

Butler 2020

image.png.821633eee81795c2978b0316bf11f9c6.png ANB 2018

image.png.b33d0174d51c9d0b56e2490b02600616.png

I think this is probably a lousy comparison but I feel these two play similar roles with their running and what is asked of them. Butler much better user of the ball obviously but I feel ANB is cleaning up this area of his game. If he can get back to his 17/18 form he'll be best 22 and we can keep some continuity with our playing group. Agree Wiseblood with losing patience with players like this but he's the same age group as our core players and I think could go up a notch to get back to his best as he does so much well.

Anyway food for thought. I am not too fussed tbh if he does go but I would certainly want to get something decent in return or have him added to a larger trade for value.

 

image.png

Edited by Yung Blood
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Supermercado said:

I reckon he's underrated. Which is easy when nobody rates him.

You've got to have depth. He's not going to turn into Dustin Martin anytime soon but is handy enough. You can massacre the fringe players but who's going to replace them? If he reckons he can get a better run somewhere else then let him go, otherwise at least he's got a few years of experience on a random kid.

using this logic tmac plays over jackson, cwags over pickett and omac before rivers? random kids need to be given games to become seasoned professionals u cant expect it to happen over night.

massacre the fringes bring in best 22 players to push others out and down and kids to grow past. thats literally the basics of list management one would think...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, Turner said:

using this logic tmac plays over jackson, cwags over pickett and omac before rivers? random kids need to be given games to become seasoned professionals u cant expect it to happen over night.

massacre the fringes bring in best 22 players to push others out and down and kids to grow past. thats literally the basics of list management one would think...

The three young players you mentioned were targeted, talented and non-speculative picks. If we replace ANB with the pick we receive for him, it’ll be more of a speculative, random kid. We’ll be lucky to get a late third rounder for him. 

Edited by Ethan Tremblay
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

The three young players you mentioned were targeted, talented and non-speculative picks. If we replace ANB with the pick we receive for him, it’ll be more of a speculative, random kid. 

didnt realise we only targeted, talented non-speculative picks once and drafted alphabetically every other season? 

  • Facepalm 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, chook fowler said:

the use of movement and fast in the same sentence with respect to Oscar in an oxymoron.

Good golly, oh - braces! You're absolutely correct, Chook! Sorry about that ... must have been thinking forward, relating 'fast' to the absence of OMac on our list. The adverbial form 'rapidly' may well have been an improvement. Still, between you and I, it seems that the sentiment, not the word, is amicably amiable. 'Carna Dees@

Link to comment
Share on other sites


12 minutes ago, Turner said:

didnt realise we only targeted, talented non-speculative picks once and drafted alphabetically every other season? 

I suspect you realise that the players you're using for comparisom were all higher picks than we'd be dealing with here in a draft that was not compromised and in which there was a lot of exposed form to make decisions on - none of which applies to the situation for this draft.  If you think we're guaranteed a player of the quality of the three you mentioned from this, or even the same chance they'll be that quality, you should stay away from games involving probability.

As has been noted by others, there are plenty of reasons we could consider moving ANB on - salary cap space, part of a larger deal for a player who fills a need or to trade up.  But simply to pick a random player in the 40s (or wherever it slips to after all the compensation/academy/etcs) doesn't fill me with hope.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

The three young players you mentioned were targeted, talented and non-speculative picks. If we replace ANB with the pick we receive for him, it’ll be more of a speculative, random kid. We’ll be lucky to get a late third rounder for him. 

I can see that logic, but I also think we've got Pickett and a rejuvenated Spargo as the starters in the half forward spots. Then some if not all of Hannan, Hunt, Bedford and Chandler on the list to fight for spots. If we keep ANB and he isn't a consistent part of the side then we've really got a collection of speculative talent as is. 

If there's not a lot of confidence that he'll be a regular in the side then we're losing a lot less for moving him on. There's ways to replace the list spot with a less speculative pick as well - delisted player, mature ager, trade up picks etc.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, Standard Deviation said:

I suspect you realise that the players you're using for comparisom were all higher picks than we'd be dealing with here in a draft that was not compromised and in which there was a lot of exposed form to make decisions on - none of which applies to the situation for this draft.  If you think we're guaranteed a player of the quality of the three you mentioned from this, or even the same chance they'll be that quality, you should stay away from games involving probability.

As has been noted by others, there are plenty of reasons we could consider moving ANB on - salary cap space, part of a larger deal for a player who fills a need or to trade up.  But simply to pick a random player in the 40s (or wherever it slips to after all the compensation/academy/etcs) doesn't fill me with hope.

its all part of the big picture, maybe we'll package up the picks for a player, a first rounder to an academy club, he might be on too much cash for his output and we are deeeep in that spot. every draft theres 150 gamers picked in the 40s its a gamble worth taking even if we did carry the pick through

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, deanox said:

You think the playing on ball he could compete with Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw (from us) or the equivalent first 4 from other clubs?

I don't. 

when you're 13th at stoppages then yeah he should be getting more minutes. no chance simon Goodwin even thought about it

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Turner said:

using this logic tmac plays over jackson, cwags over pickett and omac before rivers? random kids need to be given games to become seasoned professionals u cant expect it to happen over night.

massacre the fringes bring in best 22 players to push others out and down and kids to grow past. thats literally the basics of list management one would think...

Did I suggest playing him in front of anyone? You're making the logic up.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    GOLDIE'S METTLE by Meggs

    On a perfect night for football at the home of the Redlegs, Norwood Oval, it was the visiting underdogs Melbourne who led all night and hung on to prevail in a 2-point nail-biter. In the previous round St Kilda had made it a tough physical game to help restrict Adelaide from scoring and so Mick Stinear set a similar strategy for his team. To win it would require every player to do their bit on the field plus a little bit of luck.  Fifty game milestoner Sinead Goldrick epitomised

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 1

    2024 Player Reviews: #19 Josh Schache

    Date of Birth: 21 August 1997 Height: 199cm   Games MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 76   Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 75     Games CDFC 2024: 12 Goals CDFC 2024: 14   Originally selected to join the Brisbane Lions with the second pick in the 2015 AFL National Draft, Schache moved on to the Western Bulldogs and played in their 2021 defeat to Melbourne where he featured in a handful of games over the past two seasons. Was unable to command a

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 1

    2024 Player Reviews: #21 Matthew Jefferson

    Date of Birth: 8 March 2004 Height: 195cm   Games CDFC 2024: 17 Goals CDFC 2024: 29 The rangy young key forward was a first round pick two years ago is undergoing a long period of training for senior football. There were some promising developments during his season at Casey where he was their top goal kicker and finished third in its best & fairest.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 20

    2024 Player Reviews: #23 Shane McAdam

    Date of Birth: 28 May 1995 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 3 Career Total: 53 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total:  73 Games CDFC 2024: 11 Goals CDFC 2024: 21 Injuries meant a delayed start to his season and, although he showed his athleticism and his speed at times, he was unable to put it all together consistently. Needs to show much more in 2025 and a key will be his fitness.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 29

    2024 Player Reviews: #43 Kyah Farris-White

    Date of Birth: 2 January 2004 Height: 206cm   Games CDFC 2024: 4 Goals CDFC 2024:  1   Farris-White was recruited from basketball as a Category B rookie in the hope of turning him into an AFL quality ruckman but, after two seasons, the experiment failed to bear fruit.  

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 2

    2024 Player Reviews: #44 Luker Kentfield

    Date of Birth: 10 September 2005 Height: 194cm   Games CDFC 2024: 9 Goals CDFC 2024: 5   Drafted from WAFL club Subiaco in this year’s mid season draft, Kentfield was injured when he came to the club and needs a full season to prepare for the rigors of AFL football.  

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 7

    REDLEG PRIDE by Meggs

    Hump day mid-week footy at the Redlegs home ground is a great opportunity to build on our recent improved competitiveness playing in the red and blue.   The jumper has a few other colours this week with the rainbow Pride flag flying this round to celebrate people from all walks of life coming together, being accepted. AFLW has been a benchmark when it comes to inclusivity and a safe workplace.  The team will run out in a specially designed guernsey for this game and also the following week

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    REDEEMING by Meggs

    It was such a balmy spring evening for this mid-week BNCA Pink Lady match at our favourite venue Ikon Park between two teams that had not won a game since round one.   After last week’s insipid bombing, the DeeArmy banner correctly deemanded that our players ‘go in hard, go in strong, go in fighting’, and girl they sure did!   The first quarter goals by Alyssa Bannan and Alyssia Pisano were simply stunning, and it was 4 goals to nil by half-time.   Kudos to Mick Stinear.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    REDEEM by Meggs

    How will Mick Stinear and his dwindling list of fit and available Demons respond to last week’s 65-point capitulation to the Bombers, the team’s biggest loss in history?   As a minimum he will expect genuine effort from all of his players when Melbourne takes on the GWS Giants at Ikon Park this Thursday.  Happily, the ground remains a favourite Melbourne venue of players and spectators alike and will provide an opportunity for the Demons to redeem themselves. Injuries to star play

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...