Brisbane wants Fremantle to get real on Lachie Neale negotiations

BRISBANE has urged Fremantle to forget about last year’s trade week heist and get realistic in negotiations for Lachie Neale, with the Lions insisting they are offering a fair price for the Docker.

Lachie Neale says he has played his last game for Fremantle. Picture: Getty Images

BRISBANE has urged Fremantle to forget about last year’s trade week heist and get realistic in negotiations for Lachie Neale.

The Lions told Fremantle the No.2 pick the Dockers were able to pry out of Gold Coast for Lachie Weller last year was a once in a lifetime deal and should not be used as a scale for future dealings.

Gold Coast was forced into the lopsided deal after CEO Mark Evans promised Weller he would bring him to the Gold Coast where he spent his high school years and was a member of the Suns’ academy.

Although the Suns were widely scorned for paying overs for a player of 47 games experience who had never finished in the top 10 of Fremantle’s club championship, it became a win for both parties as Weller performed well for the Suns this season and by the end of his career it is unlikely anyone will care what the club gave up.

The Lions believe pick 5 is fair for Lachie Neale. Picture: Getty Images

But it has led to a ruthless approach by the Dockers that could come back to haunt the club who sat at the rear of a four club trade traffic jam.

Brisbane say pick five is a fair price for Neale while the Dockers are adamant he is worth pick five and another first round pick which Brisbane do not possess.

It is a strange stance given they have pulled out discussions with Melbourne over Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan because they feel the Demons’ demands for two first round picks are unreasonable for a key position player who booted 47 goals this year.

The Demons had hoped to secure the pick five Fremantle would receive for Neale as part of the Hogan deal which could then be passed on to the Suns for former captain Steven May.

The Suns are happy to keep May for another year and then receive AFL compensation when he departs as a free-agent.

Originally published as Brisbane wants Fremantle to get real on Lachie Neale negotiations