AFL: Brisbane Lions confirm that Lachie Neale is certain to play Grand Final after shoulder scare
Brisbane has confirmed that Lachie Neale will play in this week’s Grand Final, but the decision on defender Jack Payne is more complex.
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Brisbane football boss Danny Daly says Lachie Neale is “100 per cent right to go” and Jack Payne will have to hit that mark if he is to play any part in the grand final against Collingwood.
Neale sent shockwaves through the Lions camp in the preliminary final win over Carlton when he came up clutching at his right shoulder after a crunching tackle late in the contest.
It’s the same shoulder that has caused Neale problems in the past but Daly confirmed there was no reason for concern and the Lions co-captain would train freely this week.
“No he’s fine, just a bit of a stinger,” Daly said.
“I think he just put on a bit of a show for the cameras to be honest.
“He’s turned up to the club today, he’s in good health. He’s 100 per cent right to go.
“He’ll get out there (on Tuesday) and do what he normally does.
“He’ll be fine, he won’t be taped up or anything. He’s 100 per cent right to go.”
Payne’s fitness is more of a concern to the Lions, who will give their breakout key defender every opportunity to overcome an ankle injury in time to play.
Veteran Darcy Gardiner came in to replace Payne for the preliminary final against Carlton and starred on Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow, keeping the Blues spearhead to a solitary goal.
Daly said the first indication of Payne’s fitness would come at Tuesday’s open training, however the call would not be made until the main session on Thursday.
“We’ll give him every chance to get up this week and then it becomes a headache for match committee (selection),” he said.
“He’s pretty well done most of the training all year so missing a couple of weeks of football skills isn’t going to set him back too much, in fact it will probably freshen him up a bit mentally.
“The biggest thing is whether his ankle will be ready to go on Saturday.
“(Tuesday) is a bit of a kick and catch to be honest. We do our main session on Thursday. He will have to get through that main session to be any chance (to play).”
With former Lion turned Magpie Dan McStay already ruled out of the season decider with a knee injury, there are questions over what the makeup of Collingwood’s forward line will be on Saturday.
But Daly said the Lions’ selection would not hinge on what the Magpies do.
“It will have an impact on Collingwood – poor old D-Mac (McStay), it’s so unfortunate, we’re sorry to see him go down,” Daly said.
“But we’re not sure what Collingwood is going to do selection-wise, so that won’t have any impact on what we do.
“We won’t play anyone that’s not 100 per cent. I think we showed on the weekend with Dizzy (Gardiner) coming into the team and playing like he did, we’ve had the philosophy this year of soldier replacing soldier.
“Jack will have to be 100 per cent for us to pick him.”
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Originally published as AFL: Brisbane Lions confirm that Lachie Neale is certain to play Grand Final after shoulder scare
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