When Alex Neal-Bullen arrived at the Adelaide Football Club in October, earning a spot in the Crows’ leadership group wasn’t at the front of his mind.
The former Demon said his sole focus at his new Club was to gain the respect of his teammates and coaches, and do his best to help the Crows succeed.
“When I stood here after the trade had just gone through, my intentions from the get-go were to understand what this Club stands for, what the current leaders and personnel drive within this footy Club, and for me to get right in behind that,” Neal-Bullen said.
“I have been very consistent with my process around this - I am not walking in here as a Premiership player, although it may be spoken about externally.
“I am here as Alex Neal-Bullen, an Adelaide Crow, who wants to be the best teammate I can be.”
Fast forward four months and after impressing with his willingness to embrace all the Club stood for, Neal-Bullen was named in the Crows’ five-man leadership group, led by third-year Captain Jordan Dawson.
Speaking to the media alongside fellow Vice Captain Ben Keays on Tuesday, Neal-Bullen said he was ready to take on the responsibilities and expectations of being a leader.
“To be acknowledged in a leadership role, I’m very humbled, but this Club has also given me the environment to feel comfortable to be myself and really buy into what the Club has already established,” Neal-Bullen said.
“I just got a tap on the shoulder to go into (Leadership Development Manager) Dan Jackson’s office, and he welcomed me into the leadership group with Daws and the boys who have been there for a few years.
“It’s a moment I’m very proud of, but also understanding that to get to where we want to, we need everyone to lead and buy in, in their own way.
“I am very excited. This is an industry where we live in pressure, so there will always be pressure when you’re an AFL team, but for us, we’ve got to continue to build that belief.”
Upon joining Adelaide, Neal-Bullen said his teammates’ willingness to work hard and improve had impressed him the most.
“They don’t need any encouragement, once we cross the line for training, and this is obviously only training I’ve seen, but the intensity and effort has been at a very high level,” Neal-Bullen said.
“As soon as we come off the track, I can just see the willingness to learn, we’ve got a group here who is very eager to continue to improve and that’s been so evident. That’s been led by the coaches and the players are getting in right behind that.
“I find it so rewarding walking out of a long day here, getting in my car driving home very proud of where this club is currently and now we’ve got the responsibility to get out there and perform.”
Keays, meanwhile, has featured in the Crows’ leadership group since 2022.
The joint reigning Club Champion said his leadership style was based around setting high standards and building connections amongst the group.
“It means a lot…It’s always an honour to represent the Club like this in a leadership sense and support Daws,” Keays said.
“I am absorbed in the process every day of just trying to get better and serve the Club. I haven’t really had a chance to reflect, yet, I think there’s still a story to write and a lot more improvement to come, so I’m just focusing on that at the moment.
“I think I am very similar (to Alex) in the fact that I lead with my training standards and my work ethic, I’ve tried to bring that to the Club over the years I’ve been here.
“I feel like I’ve built really solid friendships over the years and I feel really connected to some of these younger boys now, hopefully that’s two strengths I can continue to bring.”
Adelaide faces Brisbane in its Community Series match at Brighton Homes Arena on Thursday, February 27, at 7.40pm (ACDT).
The Crows will then kick off their 2025 AFL season with a clash against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, March 16, at 12.05pm.
Tickets available here.
