A STRONG, hard-bodied midfielder with senior experience, Alex Neal-Bullen is a draft prospect with solid credentials. 

Oftenit's easy to overlook his influence on games: his possessions arelargely gathered in and under packs, and he doesn't have the breakawayspeed to burst out of a pack. 

But, in his timewith Glenelg's senior team and South Australia's NAB AFL Under-18Championships campaign, Neal-Bullen had a big impact with a calmpresence, poise with the ball, and an ability to just keep getting it. 


Neal-Bullenshowed his elite running power at the combine, where he posted thethird-best three-kilometre time trial (9:54 minutes) and a level 15.2beep test.
 

That's a central part of his game, with Neal-Bullen able to get to plenty of stoppages and make an impact when he's there. 

Insix games for South Australia during the under-18 championships, the182cm/77kg prospect averaged 18 disposals and five clearances a game,and he's also an aggressive tackler (averaging four a game). 

Importantly, Neal-Bullen also has senior experience, having performed well for Glenelg. 

Innine games at the SANFL's top level, he averaged 20 disposals andshowed his talents as a ball winning and consistent inside midfielder(almost 40 per cent of his disposals in the seniors were contested).


Neal-Bullendoesn't have the out-and-out spread from contests that othermidfielders possess, which is probably what pushes him down the order atouch. 

His speed in games is OK without beingexceptional, but showed at the combine that it wasn't one of his go-tostrengths (he tested 3.12 over 20 metres).

LukeParker has developed into one of the premier young midfielders in thecompetition, and Neal-Bullen carries some of the same traits as theemerging Sydney Swans on-baller.

Neal-Bullen bases his game on his quick hands at stoppages and capacity at winning contested disposals.


Neal-Bullen is probably a second or third-round draft prospect.


Levelheadedand a quality leader, Neal-Bullen ticks some important boxes. He'llneed to work on a few things, but has the temperament, tenacity anddesire to make an impact in the midfield.