Farewell Alex Neal-Bullen

[Superunknown 4,215]

I will miss his gut running followed by his gaping mouth trying to get his air back. I loved that about him.

He rang my son on a junior member ring around about a month ago, and he was so happy to tell Alex he was his favourite, behind Petracca 😂

I had a quick word to him too and he didn’t rush me off the phone. That says a lot.

One of our faves. 
 

Go well, Nibbler. 
 

It’s funny eh, I can’t think of a player except Howe who’s left us that I bore any ill will toward and no one exemplifies that more than ANB. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, I'va Worn Smith said:

Not about Trac.  Or is it just coincidence?

Coincidence. Two separate leaks. 

[Jaded No More 68,879]

Just now, WalkingCivilWar said:

Coincidence. Two separate leaks. 

Same leaker, or two separate d*ckheads?

[DeeSpencer 25,642]

1 minute ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

“I wanna sing the song in the next couple of weeks.” 🥹

He wishes he could pick the footy club up and place it in Adelaide and stay in the red and blue.

I’m not crying, I’ve just got something in my eye.

We get Burgo, we make Petty happy, keep Nibbler, play at our favourite ground, bonus home game with gather round.

I mean, maybe we should just do it.  

[Guest]

Just now, Jaded No More said:

Same leaker, or two separate d*ckheads?

Two separate leakers. 

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,712]

The ironic thing is the way we have handled this request for ANB is actually an example of good culture. Culture isn’t about how many games you win, it’s about how you act when you have to make a decision that isn’t in the best interest of your club, but is right for the individual.

[MrFreeze 1,960]

We've seen what Langdon can do as a HF. He has the work rate and capacity to fill the spot. Perhaps we target a classy winger to take his place.

[binman 42,842]

52 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

One positive is that we don't have to watch him getting mowed down from behind 3-4 times a game 

But unfortunately we'll still have to watch players running their guts out with ball in hand, and look forward and realise noone is gut running to provide an outlet option.

[No. 31 1,232]

24 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

We get Burgo, we make Petty happy, keep Nibbler, play at our favourite ground, bonus home game with gather round.

I mean, maybe we should just do it.  

LOL ... the Norwood Demons 😈

It is a loss that ANB wants a trade to S.A. he is one of those clubman types that always puts in. But in time, someone else will step up to fill his shoes.

Given he stipulates a trade to S.A. it is not a question of him leaving due to behind the scenes issues, sometime we have personal circumstances where family has to come first. Good luck to him for the rest of his footy career!

[binman 42,842]

7 minutes ago, MrFreeze said:

We've seen what Langdon can do as a HF. He has the work rate and capacity to fill the spot. Perhaps we target a classy winger to take his place.

Yep, top idea. 

Langers is the only comparable athlete to nibbla we have on our list.

[sue 9,099]

1 hour ago, mo64 said:

Don't blame the messenger, it's their job to source and publish info like this. 

And for those calling for a witchhunt for a supposed leak at clubland. this type of info could have been passed on by a person 4 times removed from ANB. Player managers talk to family, who in turn talk to friends and workmates. It's easy for this story to get out. And he's hardly a high profile player.

Why are some here so confident that the leak was from some MFC ne'er-do-well?  Where is the evidence? (beyond some people always thinking the worst of the club)?  Could have come from anywhere between Melbourne and South Australia. 

[pinkshark 950]

Spewing.

Me and my boys have had so much joy out of giving it the "N...N...N...Niiiiiibbbbllleeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr!" shout out when he pops up and scores, or lays a tackle, or runs his butt off in a chase down.  Will most definitely miss that very much.

Its a funny one for me.  I love his efforts.  I used to give him such a hard time in the early days.  He's not quick, he can't hit a target very often, and he so often got pinged for holding the pill it was not funny.  But he defied it all to be come our beloved...."N...N...N...Niiiiiibbbbllleeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr!"

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,815]

Whilst the leak is a negative, isn't it a positive that MFC supporters can say farewell/thank you to ANB in the final Collingwood game, as opposed to this news being kept secret and the fans finding out about the move in trade week?

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,843]

6 hours ago, binman said:

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 - string 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 and AMW. 

1. By any definition, traded out means: Barter arrangement in which goods or services are exchanged for other goods and services. So yes, we traded them out.
2. The definition of elite athlete is disputed and there is no universally accepted definition. By some definitions, both JJ and Bedford are elite athletes. Refer: www.bases.org.uk/imgs/51_article_p6527.pdf.
3. Champion data defines elite as a player being in the top 10 percent of players in a defined category. This means that there are approx. 80 players in the AFL that, by Champion Data definitions, are elite runners. 
4. JJ has run with some of the best players in the comp this year including Daicos, Neale and Merrett. They would be considered elite by Champion data I would have thought.
5. Respectfully, I maintain my point still stands, elite runners are everywhere - including in the Melbourne reserves in 2023. Replacing ANB with another so called elite runner, with potentially a better range of skills, shouldn't be too hard to achieve I wouldn't have thought.

Edited August 14 by Queanbeyan Demon
Typo

[Guest]

20 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Whilst the leak is a negative, isn't it a positive that MFC supporters can say farewell/thank you to ANB in the final Collingwood game, as opposed to this news being kept secret and the fans finding out about the move in trade week?

What we as fans want isn’t what matters. What matters is that the family wanted to make it public at a time chosen by them, not by someone who took the liberty to blab. 

[old55 23,529]

1 hour ago, MrFreeze said:

We've seen what Langdon can do as a HF. He has the work rate and capacity to fill the spot. Perhaps we target a classy winger to take his place.

I thought Lingers hasbeen great since he returned to the wing. I think the spot is Laurie's if he wants it enough. 

[BangBnagBang 692]

 

3 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

This was clearly leaked from the club against theirs, and the players wishes.

Someone should hang for this. A player being up front and honest with the club in a professional manner that allows them to plan for the future, and someone betrays that and runs to tell a journalist? All that means is the club won’t have players come forward in the future, and will leave them scrambling.

It’s hugely disappointing.

This was clearly NOT leaked from the club. Theh club has known for 4 weeks. In that time managers and others clubs have been notified. Once managers and other clubs are involved it gets out.

[BLWNBA 1,002]

Gettable briefly discussed ANB, noting that Adelaide is the likely destination. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,815]

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

What we as fans want isn’t what matters. What matters is that the family wanted to make it public at a time chosen by them, not by someone who took the liberty to blab. 

Fair enough.

What I should have just wrote was that it presents a good opportunity to give the fans the opportunity to say thanks to him after siren of the Pies game. You agree? 

[layzie 33,792]

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

Goody on Nibbler.

 

"He said to me and the playing group, if he could pick the Melbourne footy club up and place it in Adelaide he would be playing in the red and blue still."

Really says all you need to know about the guy.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Fair enough.

What I should have just wrote was that it presents a good opportunity to give the fans the opportunity to say thanks to him after siren of the Pies game. You agree? 

Definitely! Nibs deserves a wonderful sendoff and the only thing that should prevent this is if he doesn’t want one. I don’t imagine that would be the case, though. He’s a humble person but I’m sure he’d be happy to do what us fans want. He’s one of the more openly appreciative players. 

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

19 minutes ago, BLWNBA said:

Gettable briefly discussed ANB, noting that Adelaide is the likely destination. 

How they only have Pick 4 and 26. 26 was ours for McAdam and ANB does not equal McAdam. I’d love pick 4 but even I know that it’s overs. 

Do the Crows have other potential inbound picks from trades that they maybe doing? I did hear one of their defenders was on the trading block.

[Deespicable 2,726]

6 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Id hate to see him leave but for reasons I accept it's only fair .

Wouldn't be easy having a young family and living istate.

Do we start to think twice about istate players.

They obviously come with this risk.

We lost Jackson and haven't really replaced him.

I guess you just have to roll the dice on them anyway.

Anb has been worth the risk for sure.

I feel like the wheels are starting to fall off the club. Started with Gus and it keeps going.

Interestingly, Nibbler has been somewhat inconsistent this season. Has been a good player as usual but I'd argue down on his best.

 

Down on his best - Nick Daicos and Sam Walsh say Hi

[whatwhat say what 22,731]

So…

I know we expect him to play and perform in the last few weeks, but should he be playing? What happens if he cops a significant injury?

Also, if an agreement can’t be reached with the Crom or the Pear, will he be amenable to staying on at MFC or will he retire?

[adonski 12,045]

Crom the likely destination according to Jay Clark on Triple M

Suspect we'll probably get our McAdam pick back, must've been fate