Lachie Neale confirmed his departure from the Brisbane Lions after helping them complete a remarkable grand-final comeback at the MCG and claim his third consecutive premiership.
The dual Brownlow medallist had been at the centre of the Lions’ turbulent build-up after receiving a one-match suspension for punching Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan. An appeals board overturned the ban, allowing Neale to take his place in his fifth grand final.
He began the match on the bench and was met by loud boos when he entered nine minutes into the third quarter. Neale, who previously played for Fremantle, 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.”
Neale was used in short bursts and could not exert the same influence he had during the second half of the previous year’s grand final. Brisbane’s clearances were also limited as Fremantle took control at centre bounces.
With less than five minutes remaining, Fremantle had opened a 17-point lead while Neale was on the bench. He then returned to the middle alongside Will Ashcroft, Josh Dunkley and Sam Draper as the Lions attempted to rescue the match.
Neale won the first touch of the decisive passage, with Ashcroft rising alongside him as Brisbane began its fightback. The Lions completed what Neale described as the biggest heist in grand-final history.
“The mentality to switch that, and it be ‘go time’ for us, was important,” Neale said, referring to the club’s “Wharfie Time” phrase for late-match efforts. “‘Fages’ once described us as cockroaches – we just don’t die.”
He finished with 20 disposals and a third premiership medal before confirming that the match had been his final appearance for Brisbane. His expected move to Collingwood is set to take place 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 separate off-field distractions from his responsibility to perform, amid the intense attention surrounding his future and the disciplinary case.
“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.”
Brisbane president Andrew Wellington praised Neale and the club’s other 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.
