Lachie Neale overcame a suspension appeal and a hostile reception to help Brisbane Lions secure a third consecutive premiership, producing a crucial late contribution in a dramatic grand final at the MCG.
The dual Brownlow medallist had been ruled out after receiving a one-match ban for punching Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan in the stomach. Brisbane football boss Danny Daly worked to have the decision overturned, while contingency plans were made for Neale to travel to Naracoorte in South Australia to be with his father, Robbie, if the appeal failed.
Those plans were abandoned when the appeals board cleared Neale to play in his fifth grand final. He began the third match of his five grand finals on the bench, entering nine minutes into the game to loud boos.
Neale, a former Dockers player, said the reception did not trouble him. “I don’t give a shit about that, whatever,” he said. “I used to play for them as well, which probably added to it. It’s part of the game – honestly it doesn’t bother me.”
He did not dominate in the manner of his influential second-half performance the previous year, when he came on as a substitute and collected 17 disposals. The Dockers controlled the centre clearances for long periods, leaving Neale and Brisbane struggling to gain momentum.
With less than five minutes remaining, Brisbane trailed by 17 points and Neale was back on the bench. He was then recalled alongside Will Ashcroft, Josh Dunkley and Sam Draper for a final effort to rescue the Lions’ season.
Neale won the first touch after returning to the centre, with Ashcroft rising alongside him as Brisbane began its decisive surge. He finished with 20 disposals and another premiership medal.
“The mentality to switch that, and it be ‘go time’ for us, was important,” Neale said, referring to the Lions’ plan for “Wharfie Time” to become a moment to attack rather than a period of waiting.
The premiership was Neale’s third in a row with Brisbane, but it was also his final appearance for the club. He confirmed after the match that he would not be there next season, with an expected move to Collingwood in the coming weeks.
“I’ve loved my time at this club, they are an exceptional club,” Neale told Seven. “It’s been the best eight years of my life. It’s been an incredible ride. I love this group, [and] I’m going to miss them every much.”
Neale said he had learned to shut out the attention surrounding him, which had intensified during a season of headlines, speculation and scrutiny. “Unfortunately, I have had experience in compartmentalising things and getting on with the job,” he said.
“In a weird way, it’s a strength of mine – my resilience on the field and off the field,” Neale added. “There are people doing it a lot worse than me. I have won my third premiership at an amazing organisation, so I can’t really complain.”
Brisbane president Andrew Wellington praised Neale and the club’s leaders for keeping the turmoil from affecting their campaign. “Everyone just asked him, [that] as long as he is with us, he gives us everything, and he has done that,” Wellington said.
