Brisbane Lions co-captain Lachie Neale confident his injured heel won’t be a problem in grand final

Brisbane Lions co-captain Lachie Neale has paid tribute to the club’s medical staff as he opened up on his ongoing heel problem.

Lions star Lachie Neale admits his heel injury will again require plenty of management to allow him to play in the AFL grand final but declared he would be “ready to go” come Saturday when Brisbane meets Sydney at the MCG.

The Lions are set to make only one change to the team that beat Geelong in last Saturday’s memorable preliminary final, with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan confirming that Darcy Fort would be the replacement for injured ruckman Oscar McInerney (shoulder).

Neale paid credit to the Lions’ strength and conditioning and medical staff for having ensured he had been right to play each weekend for the past two months despite his ongoing heel problem.

Having barely trained on Tuesday, Brisbane’s talisman will lift his intensity at Thursday’s session before again backing off in Friday’s captain’s run.

“The S and C guys, the doctors and the physios have done a great job in managing my programs to make sure I’m cherry ripe on game days,” Neale told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 show.

“I feel like it hasn’t affected my performance at all. Maybe in the GWS semi-final (on September 14) I felt it more than I had in previous weeks, but on the weekend (against Geelong) I couldn’t feel it at all.

“I’m feeling really confident in my program, and I’ll be ready to go.”

Lions co-captains Harris Andrews (left) and Lachie Neale celebrate after Brisbane’s preliminary final win over Geelong. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Neale, whose Brisbane side is chasing redemption after losing last season’s premiership decider by just four points to Collingwood, said he was feeling a “lot more relaxed” compared with grand final week last year.

“We know what’s coming. We want to enjoy the week again, knowing that it’s going to be a fierce battle, a footy war on Saturday,” the Lions co-captain said.

“I actually feel quite calm and relaxed this time around. Last year, I was a little but antsy and even early in the week couldn’t sleep too much, whereas now I feel a little bit more calm and ready for what’s coming.

“Having been through the experience of the week last year holds me and the group in pretty good stead.”

Fagan told AFL 360 that 31-year-old Fort – who has spent most of the season in Brisbane’s VFL team – was the “logical replacement” for the unfortunate McInerney ahead of the other contender, young giant Henry Smith.

“He (McInerney) is a big loss, but equally Darcy Fort is a guy that really deserves an opportunity,” the Lions coach said.

“He’s been so understanding playing the role of second fiddle. Plenty of times we have taken him away this year as an emergency and he hasn’t played a game on that particular weekend.

He’s been a great leader in the reserves and he’ll get his opportunity on the weekend.”

Fagan was on Monday night crowned the AFL Coaches Association’s senior coach of the year.

“I view it as recognition for everyone who is part of the coaching team at the Brisbane Lions – Cam Bruce, Murray Davis, Dale Morris, Scott Borlace, Ben Hudson, Daniel Lloyd and our GM of football Danny Daly,” Fagan said.

“Coaching an AFL team is a collective effort and the senior coach at all clubs requires the support and expertise of their assistant and development coaches to deliver a quality program to our players. I’m incredibly grateful to all these men for what they do to help me.

“I would also like to thank our players for their efforts. Without doubt they make us coaches look better than we are at times.”

Originally published as Brisbane Lions co-captain Lachie Neale confident his injured heel won’t be a problem in grand final