Farewell Alex Neal-Bullen

[sisso 2,580]

Sad to lose a great clubman and player in ANB, but this is the reality of modern footy…wish him all the best and move on with a refreshed list in 2025

[Dr. Mubutu 850]

52 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I doubt he made this decision yesterday 

The club would have known and has probably already been talking to both SA clubs on a deal. Likely something to do with Dan Houston. 

Obviously the club and Nibbler wanted to keep this under wraps until the end of the season, but of course someone inside the 4 walls is a rat and let it out. Very uncool!

Also a possibility that it was leaked from one of the SA clubs......

[BLWNBA 1,003]

This is extremely disappointing for the Club. ANB was, often at times, undeservingly a whipping boy for many. His form in 2021 was instrumental in assisting us and although he has been prone to the occasional brain fade, what he added to our side far outweighed any deficiencies. 

He'll be missed by the club and supporters alike. Sadly, I think he's one of those players that is near irreplaceable with reference to what he brings to the group and playing body on gameday. 

Highly rated, a true clubman. Thank you for the past ten years, Alex!

 

[Colm 2,151]

30 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

 

Yes, contracts are indeed contracts. And like any contract, if both parties agree, a contract can be amended or terminated. Holding players to their contracts sounds like tough action, but do we really want to be a club that does that? Would that harm our chances of attracting quality players in the future? If I were Dan Houston, I wouldn't want to come to a club that treated one of its loyal servants so badly. 

Geelong did exactly that with the Kelly trade a few years ago. Hasn’t hurt their ability to trade in players one little bit. 

[TassieDevil 143]

A great team player will be sadly missed.

He should not be played last 2 games. Give youngsters a chance and no injuries so ANB retain his value.

[doc roet 1,287]

6 minutes ago, BLWNBA said:

This is extremely disappointing for the Club. ANB was, often at times, undeservingly a whipping boy for many. His form in 2021 was instrumental in assisting us and although he has been prone to the occasional brain fade, what he added to our side far outweighed any deficiencies. 

He'll be missed by the club and supporters alike. Sadly, I think he's one of those players that is near irreplaceable with reference to what he brings to the group and playing body on gameday. 

Highly rated, a true clubman. Thank you for the past ten years, Alex!

 

One beautiful banner coming up hey wcw.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

20 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

Peter Moore

Earl Spalding

Jeff Farmer

Luke Jackson

With Farmer and LJ we all expected them to leave but it wasn't confirmed like ANB's departure.

But your point stands that people suspected Spalding, Farmer and Jackson were all leaving.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

This might sound strange but i'll also miss his media interviews.

You could feel the pride and joy about representing the club oozing out of him.

A stand out fella.

While i umderstand nothing stays the same, it's hard to believe we've lost him and Harmes this side of three years post the flag.

This one cuts deep and i'm sure a number within the playing group would also be pretty upset over this.

[Sydee 4,412]

1 hour ago, buck_nekkid said:

When he kicked his goal on Saturday night, the screen had his DE at 53%.

He is an elite runner, and a great team man.  If we can replace him with elite disposal and decision making, we may be better off in the long term.

He goes as a premiership hero.  He goes with my best wishes and a hope we can get an OK retrurn in the trade period.

According to wheelo ratings has his overall disposal efficiency this season as superior to JV and Clayton Oliver and only marginally below Trac 

He is better at hitting targets than many give him credit for - he gets lots of possessions in hotly contested situations and under pressure 

Significant loss imo 

[The Taciturn Demon 487]

5 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

it's hard to believe we've lost him and Harmes

I'm with you. Absolutely understand Harmes' best football was well behind him, and wasn't shocked or angry that he was traded. But Harmes, Brayshaw and Neal-Bullen are real cultural fabric players. We miss their best footballing attributes, but maybe the collective absence of their non-football stuff will be even more deeply felt. 

I've loved watching Alex Neal-Bullen play for the Demons. He's one of few players (Jones and Robertson come to mind) I've seen improve very significantly reasonably late in their career. Although he may be remembered as a 'role-player' there were absolutely games where, without him - his relentless run and ability to link up - I'm certain we would have lost. You can't say that about too many players. 

[MaccaR 60]

I spent most 20 years of my life in the military until my ex-wife forced me to make a choice between my career and family. I left the military and moved back to the state my ex-wife was from as she insisted, she needed 'family support'. Less than 2 years later we were divorced.

I suspect AFL clubs, similar to the ADF are greedy institutions with little time for spouses and family etc. I don't blame the Ex for wanting to move, the ADF gave her little support. The pressure to balance the demands of family and an organisation that wanted to 100% own you were immense.

I can't imagine what it would be like being a player in an AFL club, but I suspect it is on par or worse than what I had in the military.

I also wonder if the club is starting to have some distinct generational divides. In the military we had a lot of people in their 20's and 30's and the two distinct groups were kids, or no kids.

I had kids in my 20's (24) and this separated me from childless under 25 group that could party and the over 30's with kids who didn't socialise as much and seemed ancient to those under 25.

I note a lot of our leaders are now over 30 and tending to families while we have a strong group of under 24's coming through. Maybe our leaders are not connecting with the young crowd as well as yesteryear. 

Long story short, good luck to Nibbler. I will never forget beating the hell out of the seat in front of me at Bellerive Oval in 2019 when Nibbler shanked a kick into the forward line that cost us the game (my son still talks in embarrassment about it). He has redeemed himself tenfold since and become a great clubman. Best to him and his family.

[mo64 5,874]

1 hour ago, demon3165 said:

Good servant and played his role, but a chance to get some speed and skill into the midfield...

Perfect summation. 

I've always believed that we needed an upgrade on his role. Being a good clubman won him plenty of brownie points with the coaches. But the reality is we need to improve, and Nibbler is expendable.

He'll be remembered as a premiership player, and wish him the best.

[Sir Why You Little 37,033]

ANB one of the Fittest guys in the Side, wants to leave. This will hurt 

We just got slower

He will be a very tough opponent 

Summer just got bigger….🥃

[Tracca 850]

15 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Do you?

Trust me a hell of a lot more than you do in this situation 

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,843]

2 hours ago, binman said:

No doubt a deal will get done.

But I very much doubt we'll play hard ball - I'd be very disappointed if we did.

I'm one of nibbler's biggest fans, gutted that he's leaving and think will improve any club he goes to.

But i don't think he significantly increases Port's chances of a flag  Crom's changes of a top eight finish.

In part that's because port, and to a lesser extent crows, have players with nibbla most important skill set - his elite athleticism.

Because nibbla took time to become a best 22, and was somewhat maligned when he did, it's easy to forget that his point of difference as a draftee, his one wood, was he was already an elite athlete, with good leg speed (key) and elite endurance (critical).

Those attributes remain his most important as since he was drafted the game has become increasingly aerobic and teams now need mutiple players who are elite athletes.

Nibbla has become the prototype high half forward, a role that didn't really exist when he was drafted (not in the sense of the crazy box to box defensive running the hhf now does).

The HHF has become a key role. Its not just a matter of slotting another role player into position, they have to be an elite athlete, with a massive tank and abilityt8 cover distance at speed - and they don't grow on trees as like nibbla they have to come into the AFL elite and build from there.

It's for that reason that we'll lose more than either port or crows will gain by drafting nibbla.

We simply don't have enough such players and will have to either draft or trade one in - even if there is a player in the team now who can slot into nibblas role (which I'm not convinced there is).

Nibbla leaving compounds losing Bedford as he would be the perfect replacement.

I take almost all your points Rubbish Binny (my affectionate name for you). Thanks for the considered response. I would argue, however, that elite runners "do grow on trees". How is it that Melbourne traded two of them out who were considered not in our best 22 for the proverbial steak knifes? Surely if they were so important and rare we at least get a steak sandwich on glutton free bread with the steak knives?

[Tracca 850]

15 hours ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

When the media say Trac wants out they are right. When they say ANB isn’t leaving due to what is going on, they are wrong. Don’t you get it?

What?

 

not sure if you can read or not but my comment was to gawndy the great who said that something is rotten at the club and players want out.

 

petracca has not said he wants to be traded at all. He is disappointed with the season and dissolusioned with the direction the club is going. I would expect every player to be the same after this season.

 

anb is leaving due to family issues not because he “wants out”

[Demonland 72,155]

Goody on Nibbler.

 

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,118]

53 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

This might sound strange but i'll also miss his media interviews.

You could feel the pride and joy about representing the club oozing out of him.

A stand out fella.

While i umderstand nothing stays the same, it's hard to believe we've lost him and Harmes this side of three years post the flag.

This one cuts deep and i'm sure a number within the playing group would also be pretty upset over this.

Lots of great posts here. This one captures my feelings well.

I'm sure I remember early on in his career 'future captain' being written about him. He's had much of what is needed for that but he came up against some stiff competition when he reached the suitable time in that career!

[I'va Worn Smith 972]

Reports this morning that ANB's 'request' was leaked to the media and Nibbler is not happy about it.  The intention was to announce this at season's end.  Similar to the dubious sources, cited by Morris on the supposed issue with Trac, it would seem this may have been leaked as well.

So the question is.  Is someone within the club leaking and if so, why?

 

 

 

[Red But Mostly Blue 4,547]

We have now lost two leaders this year, which is a big hit.

I wish ANB the best. A true clubman. Played his heart out every game. Unfairly a whipping boy for many years. Always had a dip and did the 1%ers. Played his role and helped us to win a flag. He will be missed. 

But, this situation now provides an opportunity. Who will stand up amongst our group to fill these leadership positions? 

Who will be hurting in the guts that last year it got away (for some valid, and some not valid) reasons? Who is gutted that this year has been a disappointment? 

Who will stand up and take us into 2025 to win a flag? 

[manny100 1,552]

Pick 28 for McAdam. I would say given ANB's consistency we would do better.

 

[sue 9,102]

2 minutes ago, I'va Worn Smith said:

Reports this morning that ANB's 'request' was leaked to the media and Nibbler is not happy about it.  The intention was to announce this at season's end.  Similar to the dubious sources, cited by Morris on the supposed issue with Trac, it would seem this may have been leaked as well.

So the question is.  Is someone within the club leaking and if so, why?

 

 

 

or is someone leaking at the other end in SA?

[Roost it far 8,255]

2 hours ago, MoeSyzlak said:

Can someone explain to me how he can say he is going before a deal has been done that satisfies the club, given he is under contract?

Surely we can hold him to the contract if we choose? 

It’s called maturity

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

Good presser. Done a great job addressing all issues we are facing atm. 

[binman 42,896]

2 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

I take almost all your points Rubbish Binny (my affectionate name for you). Thanks for the considered response. I would argue, however, that elite runners "do grow on trees". How is it that Melbourne traded two of them out who were considered not in our best 22 for the proverbial steak knifes? Surely if they were so important and rare we at least get a steak sandwich on glutton free bread with the steak knives?

Who have we traded out that is an elite athlete?

Jordon isn't, Beford is.

And we didn't trade out either, both left of their own accord.

Look at our current list. How many elite athletes do think we have with the sort of attributes Nibbla has (eg elite endurance, high cruising speed - striding speed as they call it - and ability to back up week after week)?

I reckon the list stops at Langers, Windsor, Mcvee, maybe Chin, maybe Spargo and at a stretch Howes.

Edited August 14 by binman