Alex Neal-Bullen

[DeeSpencer 25,717]

6 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

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

We weren't 13th at stoppages, but anyway. There's an argument to be made ANB could've helped the midfield balance providing two way run but how was he going to help at the clearances?

He fumbles, he doesn't commit his body down over the ball and he always attempts to kick even if there's traffic right infront of him. He has no step, no left side and often even struggles to handball because he doesn't even gather and hold the ball properly. He's a good midfielder down a level because you get away with all those things and he can accumulate. Unless he makes big improvements I can't see him mixing it at centre clearances with stronger, faster and smarter players.

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,765]

19 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

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

Yeah, that all makes sense. As long as there's a plan and a target, I'm all for it.

He's not worth moving for a pick in isolation but your example of Rivers at 32 is a good one - if we were guaranteed the opportunity to pick someone of that quality, you'd go for it.

The problem is you generally don't know how the draft will play out.

[Demons11 7,030]

9 hours 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.

????‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,765]

19 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

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

Richmond won a premiership while being 16th at stoppages. Midfields do much more than line up at stoppages.

[Pulp Fritschon 740]

If ANB can get a two year deal somewhere else I think it is best he takes it. 

He is decent enough depth I suppose but if we are to be any good anytime soon he will not be playing all that often. 

 

[Boots and all 1,000]

On 9/29/2020 at 12:01 PM, roy11 said:

Think ANB a decent depth player, but in a position where we have some other alternatives.

If it helps us re-balance then so be it.
 

 

I think ANB and one of our inside mids packaged up to get a 40+ goal kicker might be an option?

[Dr.D 1,771]

49 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

We weren't 13th at stoppages, but anyway. There's an argument to be made ANB could've helped the midfield balance providing two way run but how was he going to help at the clearances?

He fumbles, he doesn't commit his body down over the ball and he always attempts to kick even if there's traffic right infront of him. He has no step, no left side and often even struggles to handball because he doesn't even gather and hold the ball properly. He's a good midfielder down a level because you get away with all those things and he can accumulate. Unless he makes big improvements I can't see him mixing it at centre clearances with stronger, faster and smarter players.

I think his form in 2017 has shown he can play amazing footy. A goal kicking mid that works hard. All of the traits you mention are traits you've seen from him whilst playing in the wrong position which effects ones confidence and doesn't play his best footy. 

And for all of the traits you mentioned I can name just as many for brayshaw and viney.  And at the end of the day, the dynamic of our midfield group did not work. That's proven. 

[old55 23,609]

14 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

We weren't 13th at stoppages, but anyway. There's an argument to be made ANB could've helped the midfield balance providing two way run but how was he going to help at the clearances?

He fumbles, he doesn't commit his body down over the ball and he always attempts to kick even if there's traffic right infront of him. He has no step, no left side and often even struggles to handball because he doesn't even gather and hold the ball properly. He's a good midfielder down a level because you get away with all those things and he can accumulate. Unless he makes big improvements I can't see him mixing it at centre clearances with stronger, faster and smarter players.

Quoted for accuracy.

[deanox 9,931]

8 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.

I think it's important to have a few experience players as depth as well as kids.

If we have injuries, it is good to be able to replace some holes with 100 game players, instead of having 5 kids in their first few years.

 

[Go the Biff 3,434]

Good interview with ANB. Speaks well.

Given his public persona (headline seeking goose) I was pleasantly surprised by how well Kane Cornes conducts an interview.

Alex Neal-Bullen on The Captain's Run (21.05.21)

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,508]

Has been outstanding this year.
He showed glimpses of this in 2018, but his skill level has increased significantly and now complements his well know endurance and 1%ers.  He and Spargo are significant in our structure and pressure and are now using the ball very, very well.

[TRIGON 4,783]

Kudos to Nibbler. I was one of those who were frustrated by his fumbling/sloppy disposal, however he has, for the most part, managed to address this weakness in his game. This year's change to 20 minute quarters has helped highlight his great endurance and he's played his part in applying forward-half pressure.

 

[Adam The God 30,266]

As someone lucky enough to have a hyphenated surname, can we make sure there's a hypen in there if we're spelling Alex's whole name. ?

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,846]

Really glad he wasn't traded. Not sure if we wanted to keep him or if it was more a case of no other club interested.

As others have mentioned he's a key to our forward line and the Carlton game was an example of a players that knows his way around the big sticks. His set shot goal  to steady the ship in the first quarter was outstanding.

[In Harmes Way 7,793]

5 minutes ago, A F said:

As someone lucky enough to have a hyphenated surname, can we make sure there's a hypen in there if we're spelling Alex's whole name. ?

Probably-not

[Dr.D 1,771]

On 9/30/2020 at 12:03 PM, Demon3 said:

ANB is the player that should be moved on and turned over.. he isnt going to make us better, sad but true, if we got a third rounder for him then you take it IMO

nice one

[binman 43,020]

On 9/29/2020 at 2:37 PM, Turner said:

ANB vs Ronke 

ANB vs Narkle

ANB vs Lonie

ANB vs Hunt

ANB vs Chandler/Bedford

i'd roll the dice on a season from any of the others over ANB if we can flip him. Even if they didnt work out we're not losing anything taking the risk (if you can even call it that)

Has not aged well.

One of those players has played every game this season in the best team in the AFL.

And is an integral part of that team.

The others, bar one, have, not

The others, bar one, are not.

One of the others can't crack a team in said best team. 

And one other did. And was dropped after one game, four possessions and negative 10 metres gained.

Edited May 21, 2021 by binman

[jnrmac 20,097]

What is interesting is how he has become so much more composed and certain with ball in had. Has always had elite endurance and could get to the right spots but was frustrating as he turned the ball over or fumbled so often

Credit to him that he has persevered and improved so much. Even his goal kicking now is tremendous.

Well done ANB.

[Demons11 7,030]

I’ll eat humble pie on this one, he has definitely proved me wrong! 

[Little Goffy 14,578]

Very good interview. Really thoughtful reflections on football life. Nibbler certainly doesn't speak like a fringe player, that is for sure!

Nice to get a bit of a plug in for CoinJar at the end as well.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

3 hours ago, Go the Biff said:

Good interview with ANB. Speaks well.

Given his public persona (headline seeking goose) I was pleasantly surprised by how well Kane Cornes conducts an interview.

Alex Neal-Bullen on The Captain's Run (21.05.21)

Thanks Biff.  I heard this announced by Kane post 10am news and then missed due to work comittments.  Had trouble finding it on the SEN app.

[Turner 1,515]

3 hours ago, binman said:

Has not aged well.

One of those players has played every game this season in the best team in the AFL.

And is an integral part of that team.

The others, bar one, have, not

The others, bar one, are not.

One of the others can't crack a team in said best team. 

And one other did. And was dropped after one game, four possessions and negative 10 metres gained.

happy to stick the arm up here, not my finest call, having said that he seems to drift in and out of games. i mentioned in another thread he went one week 0 tackles and <10 disposals and then backed up with 8 tackles the next week so if i looked at our 22 as a whole the two spots where i can see an obvious spot to upgrade still becomes hunt (a rebounding HB who nudges 15 touches most weeks) and nibbler who can go missing and doesn't necessarily impact scoreboard every week. so if the option becomes to look at alternatives i still would be open to it.

and before anyone gets up in arms i have been impressed by some of his games this week and i guess as a role player thats what u ask for and he's doing it

[12345_54321 1,184]

Needs a new contract ASAP! Would hate to see him go 

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

He has been great this year.  Still makes me tear my hair out a few times a game but he always seems to make up for it quickly with a timely goal or some epic pressure. 

[Dante 2,739]

Thank God the club don't read Demonland, if they did we'd be rid of Tmac, Hunt, Nibbler, Viney, Langdon, Tomlinson etc.