Lachie Neale masterclass proves he’s better than his 2020 Brownlow season

Lachie Neale stunned the AFL when he romped to the Brownlow Medal in 2020 but the star has shown that may have been the tip of the iceberg.

Lachie Neale was best on ground against the Giants. Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale has inspired his side to a 16.14 (110) to 15.6 (96) over the GWS Giants, arguably showing better form than his record Brownlow run.

The 2020 Brownlow Medalist tallied 31 votes in just 17 games during the Covid shortened season with the most points per game in the award’s history under the 3-2-1 voting system.

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But while he was outstanding in 2020, even Neale believes that he is better this season and his performance against the Giants showed exactly why.

Although Neale had a tough season last year, missing two months of footy with an ankle injury and then copping backlash after he was linked to a bombshell move back to Fremantle.

But speaking to 3AW’s Sportsday this week, Neale said he had gone to another level in 2022 and was going better than he was when he claimed the AFL’s biggest individual prize.

“I feel like this year I’ve taken steps forward in my game, and everyone knows and I know that last year I was really average — I didn’t play well at all,” he said.

“From 2020 though, yeah I feel like I’m a better player than I was then.

“I’ve got a long season ahead of me, but happy with my start compared to last year especially.”

Lachie Neale was on fire. Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

He also revealed he dropped 4-5kg during the off-season and although he dropped a bit of muscle, he said “it’s paying dividends at the moment”.

And the Giants felt his wrath as the Lions bounced back from 30 points down in the first quarter as Neale inspired his side with 39 disposals, two goals, 19 contested possessions, nine clearances and six tackles.

Three-time premiership winner with the Lions Alastair Lynch was blown away by Neale’s form.

“He‘s been a star,” Lynch told Fox Footy.

“Couple of years ago the Brownlow, last year he was just beaten up and had no pre-season, came in underdone and chased his tail all year.

“You just saw the consistency of getting on the track this pre-season. He‘s clearly playing better football than two years ago when he won the Brownlow. I think he’s a more damaging player, just such a clean player.”

David King agreed, saying: “Patrick Cripps is going well and will cause some problems, but it‘s a better 2022 than 2020 when he won it.”

Lachie Neale is better than ever. Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

After the shock loss to Hawthorn last Sunday, the Lions improved their record to 9-2 while the Giants fell to 3-8 but lost no friends with how they took the fight to Brisbane all afternoon.

Neale, Jarrod Berry (a career-high 33 disposals, eight inside 50s and six clearances) and Cam Rayner (a career-high 25 disposals) were the prime movers in the Brisbane midfield that was badly beaten in the first quarter but they found the footy and their mojo to surge past GWS with Linc McCarthy kicking four goals for the Lions.

The Lions put the pedal to the metal in the third term, kicking five goals to two to skip away from the tiring Giants. A Neale snap late in the third extend Brisbane’s advantage to 19 points to follow a spectacular goal to the recalled Dev Robertson.

A booming running goal to Brandon Starcevich then took Brisbane to a 26-point cushion that was cut to 21 points by the last change.

But the Giants couldn’t cut the lead much more, eventually falling 14-points short.

With Greg Davis, NCA Newswire

Originally published as Lachie Neale masterclass proves he’s better than his 2020 Brownlow season