ALEX Neal-Bullen will run out for his hundredth AFL game tonight, but as he celebrates this exciting milestone, his focus isn’t on the individual accolade.
“The thing that’s driving me at the moment is getting this football club to a spot where, when I leave, it’s in a better place than when I came,” Neal-Bullen told Melbourne Media.
“If I can say by the end of my career that this footy club is in a spot where it’s respected, the people within in the club remember me as a hard worker and an individual that got the best out of themself, then I might walk away very happy.
“But it’s a part of my career that I hope I’ve got another hundred more.”
The 25-year-old started his AFL career at the Dees when he was drafted to the club in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft with pick No.40.
Now he will pull on the red and blue guernsey for the hundredth time tonight when Melbourne takes on the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium.
Due to the current COVID-19 rules in Perth, Melbourne players had to complete seven days of quarantine before tonight’s game, meaning Neal-Bullen’s family and friends were unable to attend the game and celebrate the milestone alongside him.
“I would’ve loved if some family and friends could’ve been a part of this milestone game, but to be totally honest, it’s just another game.
“Because there’s no family, I don’t have that external hype at the moment, but I probably prefer it that way.”
Often considered a quiet achiever, the small pressure forward has had a stand-out year, with his maturity and hard work making him a regular in the Demons’ line-up.
“To look on a whole scale of my year, I’m happy with what I’ve done so far, and that’s compliment to Spargs, Kozzy, and other high half-forwards that have been around me,” Neal-Bullen said.
“I can’t do what I do without them there.
“I’m happy with the year and how it’s going, but I’m not satisfised and I probably won’t be unless we go all the way.”
Melbourne will fight for top spot on the ladder in tonight’s game, which will be aired via the Seven Network.
Pre-game coverage will start from 7:30pm AEST, with the first bounce scheduled for 8:10pm AEST.
Hear more from Neal-Bullen’s chat below.
