ALEX Neal-Bullen played arguably his best game with Melbourne in its eight-point win over Carlton at the MCG last Sunday. The 21-year-old, who has played 27 AFL matches, also notched up his 12^th game for the year last round – his best haul in a season. The South Australian, affectionately known as ‘Nibbler’ (say Neal-Bullen over again quickly), continues to build his game and become an important part of Melbourne’s make-up. He spoke with Matt Burgan in the lead-up to Saturday’s clash against the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium …

That kick … and the win last round

WITH just over a minute remaining in last weekend’s clash against the Blues – and Melbourne up by two points – Alex Neal-Bullen marked the ball inside 50. After taking his full-time to line up for goal, he then passed the ball to teammate Jordan Lewis to eat up more of the clock. From there, Lewis went back and lined up for goal, kicking truly after the siren.

It was an intelligent piece of play to run down the clock – even if it became a talking point afterwards – as the work from Neal-Bullen and Lewis iced the Melbourne victory.

“I took the mark and thought ‘I’m going to kick this’. I was really confident that I would kick it, then Lewy ran over to me and whispered in my ear ‘take your full 30 [seconds], then look over to me and waste another 30’,” Neal-Bullen told Melbourne TV. 

“I thought ‘what’s he talking about?’. Then Crossy (Daniel Cross), the runner, came out and said ‘there’s not long Nibs – take your full 30’. Then I went back, and as I’m walking in, Lewy’s walking away from me, with his back to me.

“I’m thinking that he knows what he’s doing. He turned to me as my 30 [seconds] finished – and [I kicked] a nice little lollipop over to him to put another 30 on the clock, and it was just enough to get over the line.”

Neal-Bullen said his nearest and dearest were a nervous wreck watching on in the stands, as he lined up for goal.

“I had my girlfriend over, and a couple of other family friends, and they said they were in the grandstand, so nervous,” he said.

“We’re out there as players and you don’t get nervous when you’re in the moment – you just do what you know you can do. I didn’t even hesitate. If I had to kick the goal, I would’ve backed myself.

“I didn’t think about the possibility of missing or the repercussions if it didn’t work. It was just plain instinct, and that’s why we can perform on the big stage like that.”

Neal-Bullen also collected 24 disposals, including 10 touches in the final team, and finished with two goals to be among Melbourne’s best.

“It was probably one of those games where I felt like I contributed over four quarters, and they’re the games that you draw a lot of confidence from,” he said.  

“In a way, we had to respond like we did on the weekend, and it was pleasing to be able to put in a good performance.”

Year three as a Dee

Arriving at Melbourne, along with Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Billy Stretch and Oscar McDonald via the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, Neal-Bullen, who was selected at No.40, couldn’t believe how quickly the time had flown.

“The first two [years] were a real opportunity to develop and mature, so I feel like I’ve made that jump to becoming a young man in footy,” he said.

“It’s one of those things where during my first two years, I was probably a VFL footballer playing in the AFL, when I got my opportunity, and now I see myself as an AFL footballer.

“I’ve matured into a position playing up forward, which Goody’s (Simon Goodwin) really backed me in. I’ve really enjoyed working with him there.”

Neal-Bullen said he had relished being given the opportunity to play in attack. 

“I’ve just really focused on playing that forward role for him (Goodwin), and bringing my pressure and intensity in, and if I hit the scoreboard that’s a bonus. I feel like I can really contribute every weekend and I feel like I own the position as well now,” he said.

“I’ve still got a lot of things to work on, but this year has been a huge jump for me in my maturity. I now understand how hard you have to work and I feel like I’m heading in the right direction.”

Despite feeling confident in his game, Neal-Bullen understands that there are several small to mid-sized forward options at the club jostling for a place in the 22. 

“I don’t feel like I’m ever locked in, I’m in a position that is vulnerable,” he said.

“There’s a lot of small forwards that are playing great footy in the VFL – Jay Kennedy-Harris, Ben Kennedy, young Dion Johnstone, so there’s always going to a bit of pressure coming upwards, and that’s great for myself and the footy team.

“I just go into every week, try my hardest, and put my best foot forward – and just play like it’s my last game of footy.”

Although a noted ball-winner in the VFL and coming through the junior ranks, Neal-Bullen said he eventually hoped to become a midfielder/forward.

“I’m really happy playing forward because last year, in the VFL, I played the majority in the midfield, so it’s a great little project I’ve put to myself to own the forward role,” he said.

“In the future, I would love to call myself a midfielder/forward. I love being around the contest, and being around the footy as much I can be.”

A South Australian boy

Hailing from Plympton/Glenelg, Neal-Bullen is a passionate South Australian, but he has since fallen for Melbourne – not only the club, but the city as well.

“As an 18-year-old, you jump on a plane and move over here, and the first few months are pretty cool, because you’re running around with blokes you’ve been watching on TV for as many years,” he said.

“Without knowing, it probably takes 18 months to feel like Melbourne is home, and now I really enjoy Melbourne – I love the city. It’s very close to Adelaide and only a short plane flight, so you get a lot of family and friends coming over.

“My Mum and Dad get over as much as they can and your relationship matures [with them] as well. When they come over, you spend some quality time, and Mum makes some good trips all over Australia.”

It’s easy to see where Neal-Bullen gets his infectious personality from, with his mum, Sharon, full of energy and a massive supporter of her son – and the club.

“In my first year, she came all the way to Perth just to watch me play, and even at the start of this season, she [flew over for] the 3km time-trial [at Princes Park],” he said.

“It fills you with a lot of pride, and makes you really proud when you get messages from them and they’re watching on TV.”

Neal-Bullen, who lives with teammate Billy Stretch, has been friends with the fellow South Australian, long before they were drafted together.

“We first crossed paths doing little athletics against each other. [We] then went on a few of state trips around Australia with our families doing cross-country and then our families created a nice friendship,” he said.

“Around under 14s we played footy together down at Glenelg. Everything just happened, then we ended up at the Dees together.”

Neal-Bullen said Billy and his father Steven, who won the 1987 Melbourne best and fairest and was an integral part of the club’s finals resurgence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, had made a genuine impact on him.

“Bill has the family history, as his father, Steve, played [at Melbourne], so he’s given me a lot of history lessons over his time,” he said.

“Billy’s a very focused kid, so he’s taught me a lot in my three years and it’s really good living with him.

“He’s taught me a lot of things about off-field stuff, and how to work hard as a professional footballer. It’s been really great having him here as a mate and a work colleague.”

As touched on early, Neal-Bullen competed in athletics before football took over. And it was walking, where he stood out.

“As a young fella, I was a really good state walker. That’s probably one of the rare hobbies and successes that I had as a young fella. I decided to stop that because I was more focused on footy and athletics at the time,” he said.

“I went out and won my first ever walk and then I went up the ranks and won my first ever title in South Australia as a 10-year old. It something I’m very proud of because not many people can say they’ve done it.

“[Player development manager] Shannon Byrnes was a state walker as well in his time, so that’s something we both brag about over a few beers on a Saturday night.”

Backed in by Goodwin

Neal-Bullen couldn’t speak highly enough of Goodwin.

He said from the moment, he met the recently inducted Australian Football Hall of Fame member, he was taken by him.

“Goody has been the bloke that’s been by my side the whole time. When I first got off the plane to move over here, he guided me out of the airport, put an arm around me and said ‘welcome to the big city of Melbourne’,” he said.

“From that day, I’ve just had this trust in him that he’s going to guide me in the direction that I need to go. Even in my first two years, I really worked with him to build on my game.”

“He’s really helped me to develop into the player that he wants me to be in his team and that’s something I really appreciate. It’s him giving me belief and putting his confidence in me.”

Neal-Bullen said Goodwin backed him strongly entering 2017. 

“At the start of this year, he sat me down and said ‘if you bring what I want you to bring, and you know you can bring it, the sky is the limit for you’,” he said.

“He’s put a lot of confidence in me in that aspect, and I’ve also learned a lot from him because he’s another South Australian lad. We’ve definitely got a special bond that I really appreciate.”

A team on the rise

With the team making significant progress this season, Neal-Bullen said it was “exciting times” at the club, as finals was now a realistic target.

“We’ve still got seven weeks left of minor-round footy to play, then hopefully we can make an impact at the end of the year,” he said.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that I’ve come in with a handful of guys in the redevelopment stage, and now we’re starting to see some fantastic results for the footy club.”

Neal-Bullen also understood the expectations from supporters and said it was something he didn’t take for granted.

“I got a text from a sponsor, and a huge supporter the other week, just after we beat West Coast, saying how much he appreciates the work we’ve done, after all the hardship they’ve been through,” he said.

“It really does bring a smile to your face and makes you realise that this is your job, but we’re making that many people satisfied and really happy on the outside.

“It’s great to know the history and how much the footy club’s been through, and to finally start seeing some results on the field – it’s a real credit to the footy club and the work that Goody’s doing.”