Regardless of a 12 months’s value of water nonetheless to go underneath the bridge, it seems seemingly twin Brisbane premiership captain Lachie Neale will return house to Western Australia on the finish of the 2026 season.
It comes following his messy and public marriage break up, with spouse Jules just lately returning to Perth with their two younger kids.
A transfer again to Fremantle in 2027, regardless of the drama surrounding it, would put Neale able to doubtlessly add the one lacking piece to his legendary AFL profession.
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Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has already stated they won’t stand in the 32-year-old’s way ought to he make that decision, not that they might, given he will likely be an unrestricted free agent.
The Lions enter 2026 because the clear premiership favourites. They’ve gained back-to-back flags, however they could now have the perfect squad on paper that they’ve had throughout this prolonged run of success.
They’ve added Essendon ruckman Sam Draper and West Coast key ahead Oscar Allen, they’re going to get again key gamers from long run accidents together with key defender Jack Payne, 2024 finals hero Keidean Coleman, key ahead Eric Hipwood and the likes of Noah Answerth, Jarrod Berry, Lincoln McCarthy and Tom Doedee.
Lachie Neale of the Lions. through Getty Pictures
All of this to say, the Lions will likely be onerous to beat in 2026 as they give the impression of being to three-peat.
Greatest case situation, Neale can have the possibility to develop into a three-time premiership participant, to go together with being a two-time premiership captain, two-time Brownlow Medallist, four-time All-Australian and four-time membership finest and fairest. A sure-fire Corridor of Fame resume.
If he then heads again to Fremantle, the place he began his profession, he will likely be doing so on the excellent second for participant and membership.
The Dockers have a younger, extremely rated record and could possibly be premiership contenders for years to return.
Earlier than the 2025 season, North Melbourne champion and AFL analyst David King rated Freo’s record as the perfect within the competitors.
And the Dockers ended up internet hosting a closing, earlier than Gold Coast surprised them at Optus Stadium.
Lachie Neale in motion for the Dockers. AAP
On paper, they do not need for something. They’ve a robust defensive core, a trio of rising key forwards, two high quality ruckmen and a trio of elite midfielders.
Including a veteran like Neale who has been to the highest of the mountain is perhaps the ultimate piece of the puzzle for them.
It will even be becoming, given Fremantle drafted him out of the SANFL with choose 58 in 2011.
Neale performed 135 video games for the Dockers and gained their finest and fairest award in 2016 and 2018, earlier than becoming a member of the Lions in 2019.
Being part of Fremantle’s first premiership will surely be a fairytale end to his storied profession, if it had been to occur. If it does not, he’s nonetheless a captivating piece to place alongside Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Hayden Younger in that midfield.
Brisbane can definitely afford to let him go, given the rise of father-son midfielders Will and Levi Ashcroft, and the addition of academy draftee Daniel Annable, rated as among the finest midfield prospects within the 2025 draft.
Lachie Neale provides his acceptance speech after profitable the Brownlow Medal. through Getty Pictures
Geelong premiership ahead Cameron Mooney believes it’s going to work out effectively for the Lions on the finish of the 12 months.
“It is his personal fault, do not feel sorry for him. This will likely be his final 12 months at Brisbane and it is not a foul factor for them,” Mooney instructed SEN.
“They’ve a lot expertise coming by, you get the wages off the books. You could have loads of younger males to pay over the approaching years.
“You will not need to lose Lachie Neale nevertheless it will not crush them. It is a matter of when not if.”
Neale will play his three hundredth sport this season and regardless of a couple of harm setbacks, remains to be able to being one of many competitors’s elite midfielders, as he confirmed within the 2025 grand closing.
