Premiership Demon Alex Neal-Bullen
PLAYERCARDSTART
30
Alex Neal-bullen
- Age
- 28
- Ht
- 182cm
- Wt
- 80kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 15.3
- 4star
- K
- 8.7
- 3star
- HB
- 6.6
- 4star
- M
- 2.8
- 3star
- T
- 4.1
- 5star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
- D
- 10.5
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 2star
- HB
- 4.5
- 3star
- M
- 2.0
- 2star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- G
- 1.5
- 5star
- D
- 10.0
- 3star
- K
- 5.0
- 2star
- HB
- 5.0
- 4star
- M
- 1.4
- 2star
- T
- 2.0
- 4star
- G
- 1.0
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
As the Demons prepare for a summer of likely upheaval, Neal-Bullen has become the first star to ask to move on at season’s end.
The 28-year-old, who has played 174 games in red and blue, said the decision to depart Melbourne after 10 years was “an incredibly hard one”.
“It’s something that I thought long and hard about, and had some really open and honest conversations with my wife, Georgie, about where our best future lies,” Neal-Bullen said.
“The decision became clear that I need to put my family first, and move our family back to South Australia.
“For the club to allow me to do the best thing for my family, I can’t thank them enough.
“They’ve embraced me as an individual, and they’ve allowed me to grow into the footballer, but also the now father, that I am.
“I’m forever grateful that I’ve been able to play for this great club and still have two more games that I want to pour everything into, to make sure we finish the year off really strongly.”
Which South Australian club is best suited for Alex Neal-Bullen
PLAYERCARDSTART
30
Alex Neal-bullen
- Age
- 28
- Ht
- 182cm
- Wt
- 80kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 15.3
- 4star
- K
- 8.7
- 3star
- HB
- 6.6
- 4star
- M
- 2.8
- 3star
- T
- 4.1
- 5star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
- D
- 10.5
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 2star
- HB
- 4.5
- 3star
- M
- 2.0
- 2star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- G
- 1.5
- 5star
- D
- 10.0
- 3star
- K
- 5.0
- 2star
- HB
- 5.0
- 4star
- M
- 1.4
- 2star
- T
- 2.0
- 4star
- G
- 1.0
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
?
PLAYERCARDSTART
30
Alex Neal-bullen
- Age
- 28
- Ht
- 182cm
- Wt
- 80kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 15.3
- 4star
- K
- 8.7
- 3star
- HB
- 6.6
- 4star
- M
- 2.8
- 3star
- T
- 4.1
- 5star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
- D
- 10.5
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 2star
- HB
- 4.5
- 3star
- M
- 2.0
- 2star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- G
- 1.5
- 5star
- D
- 10.0
- 3star
- K
- 5.0
- 2star
- HB
- 5.0
- 4star
- M
- 1.4
- 2star
- T
- 2.0
- 4star
- G
- 1.0
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
Adelaide
69 %
Port Adelaide
31 %
1894 votes
Alex Neal-Bullen
PLAYERCARDSTART
30
Alex Neal-bullen
- Age
- 28
- Ht
- 182cm
- Wt
- 80kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 15.3
- 4star
- K
- 8.7
- 3star
- HB
- 6.6
- 4star
- M
- 2.8
- 3star
- T
- 4.1
- 5star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
- D
- 10.5
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 2star
- HB
- 4.5
- 3star
- M
- 2.0
- 2star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- G
- 1.5
- 5star
- D
- 10.0
- 3star
- K
- 5.0
- 2star
- HB
- 5.0
- 4star
- M
- 1.4
- 2star
- T
- 2.0
- 4star
- G
- 1.0
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
The Demons this week dismissed speculation that Christian Petracca
PLAYERCARDSTART
5
Christian Petracca
- Age
- 28
- Ht
- 187cm
- Wt
- 94kg
- Pos.
- Mid
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 19.4
- 5star
- K
- 9.5
- 4star
- HB
- 9.8
- 5star
- M
- 3.5
- 4star
- T
- 3.0
- 5star
- CL
- 2.5
- 4star
- D
- 24.4
- 5star
- K
- 10.4
- 4star
- HB
- 14.0
- 5star
- M
- 3.5
- 3star
- T
- 3.6
- 4star
- CL
- 3.4
- 4star
- D
- 19.0
- 5star
- K
- 7.8
- 3star
- HB
- 11.2
- 5star
- M
- 3.0
- 3star
- T
- 3.8
- 5star
- CL
- 2.0
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
13
Clayton Oliver
- Age
- 27
- Ht
- 189cm
- Wt
- 88kg
- Pos.
- Mid
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 27.8
- 5star
- K
- 9.5
- 4star
- HB
- 18.4
- 5star
- M
- 3.2
- 3star
- T
- 6.3
- 5star
- CL
- 6.3
- 5star
- D
- 25.1
- 5star
- K
- 11.1
- 4star
- HB
- 14.0
- 5star
- M
- 3.6
- 4star
- T
- 5.6
- 5star
- CL
- 5.9
- 5star
- D
- 19.2
- 5star
- K
- 4.6
- 2star
- HB
- 14.6
- 5star
- M
- 2.0
- 3star
- T
- 4.4
- 5star
- CL
- 3.8
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
Neal-Bullen has become a crucial role player for Melbourne, featuring at half-forward and as a midfield tagger this year.
Melbourne has been linked with Port Adelaide’s All-Australian defender Dan Houston
PLAYERCARDSTART
5
Dan Houston
- Age
- 27
- Ht
- 186cm
- Wt
- 88kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 18.2
- 5star
- K
- 11.8
- 4star
- HB
- 6.4
- 4star
- M
- 4.9
- 5star
- T
- 3.0
- 5star
- MG
- 289.2
- 4star
- D
- 17.6
- 4star
- K
- 11.6
- 4star
- HB
- 6.0
- 3star
- M
- 3.3
- 3star
- T
- 3.4
- 4star
- MG
- 319.9
- 5star
- D
- 16.6
- 4star
- K
- 12.4
- 5star
- HB
- 4.2
- 4star
- M
- 7.0
- 5star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- MG
- 279.8
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
Power coach Ken Hinkley said recently Houston was happy in South Australia.
The 27-year-old is contracted for a further three seasons.
Adelaide’s second-round pick (mid-to-late 20s) or Port Adelaide’s second-round pick (early-to-mid 30s) would appear to be in the ballpark for Neal-Bullen.
“Obviously, it will be incredibly disappointing for the club to farewell Alex. However, we understand how necessary this move is for him and his family,” Melbourne’s general manager of football Alan Richardson said.
“Throughout our discussions with Alex, it’s been incredibly telling how much he loves our football club, but given the nature of the circumstances, this is a decision he has to make.
“When the time is right, we will work closely with the South Australian-based clubs, to ensure the best possible outcome for the Melbourne Football Club in addition to Alex and his family.
“This is a sensitive situation for Alex, and we ask that his privacy is respected at this time.”
HOW A NEAL-BULLEN TRADE COULD GET DONE
SCENARIO 1Adelaide trades its second-round pick (currently 22) for Neal-Bullen
RATING: Seems unlikely the Crows would give up pick 22 without getting a later pick in exchange as well as Neal-Bullen.
SCENARIO 2
Port Adelaide trades its second-round pick (currently 34) for Neal-Bullen
RATING: Seems in the ballpark for Neal-Bullen - but does Port Adelaide need him?
SCENARIO 3
The Crows or Power offer a future second-round pick
RATING: Adelaide could back itself to improve and give up a pick from 25-32 for Neal-Bullen. A future second-round pick would likely be 28 or later from Port Adelaide.
THE HOUSTON SCENARIO
Dan Houston
PLAYERCARDSTART
5
Dan Houston
- Age
- 27
- Ht
- 186cm
- Wt
- 88kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 18.2
- 5star
- K
- 11.8
- 4star
- HB
- 6.4
- 4star
- M
- 4.9
- 5star
- T
- 3.0
- 5star
- MG
- 289.2
- 4star
- D
- 17.6
- 4star
- K
- 11.6
- 4star
- HB
- 6.0
- 3star
- M
- 3.3
- 3star
- T
- 3.4
- 4star
- MG
- 319.9
- 5star
- D
- 16.6
- 4star
- K
- 12.4
- 5star
- HB
- 4.2
- 4star
- M
- 7.0
- 5star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- MG
- 279.8
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
RATING: Seems unlikely Port will let Houston leave with three years left on his deal (WTF???)
Originally drafted from Glenelg at pick 40 in the 2014 national draft, he has played 174 AFL games.