The brawny 'Cowboy' was a genuine character of his era. But the image of a burly enforcer belied the fact that he was an extremely talented footballer who could undertake roles in either defence or attack. When he arrived from South Warrnambool Neale was a big, raw youngster who played in the ruck and back-pocket, but his football developed rapidly and by the end of his second year he was a pivotal figure in the Grand Final win over Collingwood, kicking five goals from full-forward.

His kicking for goal caused palpitations for supporters over the years, but his marking and strength always presented a danger to opposing teams. When he turned it on there was no stopping him and one of his most memorable days was an eight-goal second-half against Essendon that turned around a substantial half-time deficit and gave St Kilda an unexpected win. He played more frequently in defence during the latter part of his career and assumed the protector role for teammates.