AFL Finals 2023: Lachie Neale reveals motivation ahead of Port Adelaide qualifying final

Brisbane skipper Lachie Neale has offered a glimpse into his pre-finals psyche, revealing his motivation ahead of the Lions’ qualifying final.

Connor Rozee and Lachie Neale.

A fired-up Lachie Neale has offered a glimpse into his pre-finals psyche, revealing he “keeps receipts” of criticism and is “ready for anything” rival teams throw at him in September.

Brisbane’s skipper missed out on a fourth All-Australian jersey last week and said although the snub did not bother him, some of the commentary around his performances this season had fuelled his drive.

“I probably knew a month out when Cornesy (Kane Cornes) and I think Bucks (Nathan Buckley) as well said I wasn’t in very good form, so I probably knew I was going to miss out,” Neale said.

“I feel like I’ve been around long enough to not let those decisions and accolades affect me going forward and my mindset.

“When you get to my age and experience you probably take little pieces of different things; it’s not necessarily media driven, but to find motivation to keep you going.

“I know I’ve done it in the past where you pick up on a thing and you might be grinding a two-hour session in pre-season and it triggers you to keep going.

“(Do I) keep receipts? Sometimes.”

Lachie Neale says he has used recent criticism as motivation to lift his game in the back half of the season. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Neale is bound to attract heavy attention from Port Adelaide in Saturday night’s qualifying final at the Gabba, and the obvious blanket man is Willem Drew.

The Power midfielder is one of the few players who has been able to stifle the influence of Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos this season and is Port’s go-to stopper.

Neale was well held by Touk Miller in Brisbane’s shock loss to Gold Coast a few weeks ago and he bristled when asked if he would reflect on that match ahead of a potential head-to-head with Drew on Saturday night.

“It’s interesting – have you seen our games the last couple of weeks? Do you reckon I got any attention in those games?” he responded.

“I could have handled that day better, for sure … but I find it pretty funny when teams or media say if you shut me down, Brisbane are going to lose.

“I get attention most weeks and when I perform badly it gets reflected that way, whereas nothing gets said when we do well as a team or I go all right.

“I feel like I’m ready for anything. I’ve dealt with it (tagging) for a long time now. You have those days where you’re a bit off, which I was against Gold Coast, but I feel like I’m ready for whatever teams throw at me and at us.

“I’ve had games where I’ve been down and been tagged and we’ve won by 10 goals, so I’m confident in whatever happens.”

In the weeks following that Gold Coast defeat and the criticism from Cornes and Buckley, Neale’s numbers have been on the rise.

Over the past fortnight the 2020 Brownlow medallist has been back to his brilliant best, averaging more than 30 disposals, 15 contested possessions and 10 clearances.

The receipts – if he has been keeping them – have clearly been working for him.

“I feel like I’ve had a really strong contribution to the team this year and what we’re trying to achieve,” Neale said.

“I know in the four walls they appreciate my work.

“As a midfield group I think we were No.1 in clearances for the year, so we feel like we’re doing a lot of things right. I know I’ve played my part in that and so have a lot of others that have rolled through there.”

Saturday’s qualifying finals offers up a mouth-watering midfield match-up between arguably the two best engine rooms in the competition.

Port Adelaide boasts a potent mix of pace and power in the form of Brownlow fancy Zak Butters, fellow All-Australian Connor Rozee, 2021 Brownlow winner Ollie Wines and former No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis.

Lachie Neale says he is ‘ready for anything’ rivals throw at him. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Port pumped the Lions by 54 points at Adelaide Oval way back in round 1 but Neale expects a vastly different look from both sides on Saturday.

“We’ve certainly learnt a lot and changed a fair bit from then – probably more our mindset, we didn’t roll into that game well,” he said.

“I think the mix of power and speed in there is probably the best in the comp, they’re unbelievable through there.

“They’re one of if not the best midfield in the comp and it’s a great challenge for our guys to come up against them.”

A win on Saturday would set up a home preliminary final and Brisbane’s best chance at a premiership charge under Chris Fagan.

But Neale knows the path isn’t as easy as some would like to believe, despite the Lions’ unbeaten record at the Gabba this season.

“In 2019 and 2020 we had the same road map and didn’t get there, so it doesn’t guarantee anything,” he said.

“We’re confident in our football and I feel this year more than ever we’re playing good football against good teams.

“If you spend time in the past at this time of year you’re going nowhere.

“We’re exciting for this finals series and I think more than ever the belief is strong in this group.”