Melbourne releases statement regarding Neal-Bullen trade request

The Melbourne Football Club has released a statement on behalf of Alex Neal-Bullen regarding the premiership player’s trade request.

The 28-year-old is eager to return home to South Australia for family reasons and will depart the Demons at season’s end.

Neal-Bullen is contracted until the end of 2026.

Read the statement from Melbourne below:

Due to family circumstances, Alex Neal-Bullen has formally requested a trade back to his home state of South Australia at season’s end.

The decision, which comes after 10 seasons with the club, was one Neal-Bullen did not take lightly, expressing the importance of putting his family first.

“Since day one, I’ve felt the love from the footy club, so to make the decision to head home is an incredibly hard one,” Neal-Bullen said.

“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.

“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.”

Melbourne Football Club General Manager of AFL Performance, Alan Richardson, said while it will be disappointing to lose a person of Neal-Bullen’s calibre, the club understood his decision.

“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,” 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.”

Neal-Bullen was drafted out of SANFL club Glenelg with Pick 40 in 2014 and has since played 174 games in red and blue.

The finished sixth in the club’s best and fairest last season and has enjoyed arguably a career-best year in 2024 by averaging 18 disposals, five tackles and almost three clearances per game.

He played a key role in the Demons’ drought-breaking 2021 premiership, picking up 24 touches and kicking a goal in the Grand Final win over the Western Bulldogs.