Glenelg product Lachie Neale tipped to stay at Fremantle because of ties to Ross Lyon
ONE of the most prominent Croweaters in the AFL, Lachie Neale, might not leave Fremantle and Western Australia after all, with outgoing football manager Chris Bond outlining the reasons.
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OUTGOING Fremantle football manager Chris Bond believes the strong bond between South Australian star player Lachie Neale and coach Ross Lyon will keep Neale in Western Australia.
Neale is understood to have been heavily courted Brisbane despite having a year to run on his contract and has flown to Queensland to meet his suitor.
But Bond said the close working relationship between Lyon and Neale — who finished second in the club’s best and fairest count last season and should win it this year — would thwart the bid.
He also strongly defended Lyon and his relationship with his staff and players and said it was one of the key planks to the Dockers being able to hang onto their players.
“I know there’s been a lot of noise in regards to Lachie Neale, but I’m hopefully very confident for the club’s sake that he’ll stay, but these things do happen,” Bond told Melbourne radio. “I am (confident Neale will stay), but with the news I’ve stepped away a little bit from it, but I also know Lachie’s contracted as well.”
“(Neale’s relationship with Lyon) is incredibly strong and Ross’ strength is definitely his relationship with players.”
Neale is from Naracoorte and was recruited from Glenelg at No. 58 in the 2011 draft after seven SANFL games. He won the best and fairest at Fremantle in 2016 and has picked up three Ross Glendinning Medals for best player in the WA derbies.