AFL legend goes nuclear over tiny detail in Melbourne Demons’ banner

An AFL legend has taken aim at Melbourne over one detail in their banner ahead of their final game of the season on Friday.

Demons called out over banner

Melbourne have come under heavy fire from one AFL great over a tiny detail in their Friday night banner.

The Demons took on Collingwood at the MCG, but it was the banner they ran through that left Cameron Ling seeing red.

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The former Geelong skipper took aim at the club for celebrating and bidding farewell to Alex Neal-Bullen.

After 10 seasons with the Demons, the 28-year-old officially requested a trade home to Adelaide for family reasons.

With the club’s hopes of making the finals lost, the club elected to pay tribute to the soon to be departing star, but the move didn’t sit well with Ling.

“Maybe I’m just getting grumpy in my old age, but the Melbourne banner said, ‘A big farewell to Alex Neal-Bullen and Ben Brown’,” Ling said on ABC.

“I find that absurd, ridiculous and outrageous. He is choosing to go play for another club.”

Demons called out over banner. Credit: Fox Footy

Fans however weren’t on board with Ling’s outburst as many said the 175-game premiership player for the club deserved the tribute.

One wrote on X: “Saying goodbye and farewell to a premiership player who is leaving for family reasons is the total opposite of ridiculous.”

A second added: “We have been criticised for our culture recently and in my view this is a step in the right direction. Sending off a premiership player with goodwill when he needs to go home for family reasons.”

A third wrote: “Played in a drought-breaking flag. Not one Melbourne person would begrudge him leaving or being farewelled.”

Neal-Bullen (middle) walks off after Friday’s contest vs the Pies. Pic: Michael Klein

Fellow Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett found himself in hot water during the contest after an unsuccessful bump attempt on Collingwood captain Darcy Moore.

Late in the second quarter, Pickett and Moore were side-by-side chasing a loose ball when the Demon opted to bump the Magpie captain, as you can see in the video player above.

At virtually the same time Pickett made that decision, Moore dropped his body in an effort to grab the footy, leading to a heavy clash that snapped Moore’s head to one side and left him flat out on the turf.

Brayden Maynard, filling his typical role, quickly remonstrated with Pickett and Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph said it would be reviewed by the MRO at the very least.

“I think the AFL will clearly take a look at it,” Ralph said.

“(Pickett) would hope to be on Mad Monday or Tuesday rather than defending an MRO charge at the Tribunal.

“He clearly bumps and makes head-high contact with Darcy Moore. I think the question is how much leeway he gets because Moore goes to ground quite late.

“In slo-mo, you think gee he could do something about it. But in real time, I think he goes to ground really quickly and without notice.

“I wonder whether that saves him.”

If Pickett does cop a ban from the MRO, he’ll serve it at the beginning of the 2025 AFL season.

Originally published as AFL legend goes nuclear over tiny detail in Melbourne Demons’ banner