Neale, who turned 19 yesterday, was in South Australia when Hayden Ballantyne’s after-the-siren set-shot to win the game hit the post.
“I actually watched the whole game and it was a great match,” Neale said.
“When ‘Ballaz’ hit the post, I felt for him a bit, but it looked very exciting.
“Hopefully for the fans, we can serve up another exciting match like that.”
Neale grew up supporting Port Adelaide and said the atmosphere around Perth leading into a Derby was similar to SA’s Showdowns between the Power and Adelaide.
“I’ve experienced a bit of that cross-town rivalry before,” he said
“This is my first one over here, so it’s been a bit of an experience, but it’s pretty similar to what you get over in Adelaide.
“All the newspapers and the news on TV have all been about the Derby.”
Neale said, despite the attention the Derby received from fans of both clubs and in the media in WA, senior coach Ross Lyon was not building the game up to be any more important than any other match.
“It’s just another game for four points and we’ll be giving it out best efforts to come home with the win,” Neale said.
On his own AFL career, the little midfielder said he was settling in well after five games, the first two of which began in the green substitutes vest.
“It’s taken a little while, obviously being the sub in my first few games,” he said.
“It probably made it a little easier coming on with fresh legs later in the game, when everyone’s a bit tired.
“I was lucky enough to start the next three games and, each week, I’m finding I’m settling in a little more and hopefully that’s shows with my performances.”
