Bullen is an out-and-out midfielder. Hard at the football and creative when he gets it. Much of this season has been a battle because of injury - ankles and hamstrings among a list of things that have held him back. Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey says there is little doubt Bullen would have played more senior football had he not been injured.
""He got a taste last season and we have liked what we have seen of him. He has just had one injury problem after another this season but that seems to be behind him now and I think he is starting to really show the sort of football he is capable of,"" Harvey said. ""He forced his way into the seniors through sheer weight of numbers and he made the most of the time he got last week.""
""He certainly hasn't cemented his place in the side and we need to him produce the same sort of performance this weekend against Carlton. That said, he did look good last weekend. I really liked the way he got in and under and went after the football. I was also impressed with his poise when he got the football. Sometimes young kids can panic but he didn't and he will only grow in confidence after that performance.
""I think his biggest asset is his ability to read the play. He really is quite uncanny with some of the things he can do and that is the key to playing in the midfield - just knowing where the ball is going to go. I think he is more of Joe Misiti type but he certainly has a dash of Jason Johnson in him,"" Harvey said.
Bullen will know he has the challenge in front of him to retain his place in the Essendon side for a final. But the opportunity is there for him to grab. He might look back and say he was in the right place at the right time but he will only remain there if he deserves to be. A few people will tell you he does after last weekend.
