Brisbane Lions superstar Lachie Neale to relish rare opportunity to play at MCG

A rare chance to play at the “home of footy” has a Lions talisman counting down the days until Brisbane’s MCG battle with the Demons.

Lachie Neale unleashes with a kick last month during one of the Lions’ rare matches at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

The novelty of playing at the MCG has Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale thrilled about the Lions’ clash with Melbourne at the “home of footy” on Friday night.

Since joining the Lions in 2019, Neale has only played seven matches at the MCG, six of which have ended in defeat for Brisbane.

Friday’s match will be the last time the Lions play there during the regular season, which has Neale not only eager to make the most of the opportunity but also help to improve Brisbane’s confidence of tasting success there should they again visit the venue in this year’s finals series.

“Pretty much as soon as I woke up on Sunday (after the Lions’ win over West Coast on Saturday), I was looking forward to this weekend’s game,” Neale said.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to get back to Melbourne and try to beat one of the best teams in the competition.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s going to be a great contest between two very good sites. I’m very excited to get to Melbourne and give it a crack.

“We don’t get many opportunities there, so we just want to try and make the most of getting there.

“As much as we love the Gabba, that’s our home, but that’s the home of footy, the MCG. I love playing there, and I know that the guys love getting there and giving it a go.”

Lachie Neale is relishing returning to the MCG. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Neale said the Lions’ ordinary record at the MCG was deceiving because of their lack of chances to play there.

“It’s probably not so much about the ground,” he said.

“Since I’ve been at the club we probably haven’t had many opportunities to play and win there, so we’re not reading too much into it.

“As well, when we do play there, we play pretty good opposition. That’s why it’s hard to win on the road against good teams.”

Star midfielder Josh Dunkley seems at long odds to return this week from the calf injury that kept him out of third-placed Brisbane’s 81-point thrashing of the Eagles.

The former Western Bulldogs star was doing laps of the oval on Tuesday while the squad trained at Springfield.

“He keeps telling me he feels like he’s ready to go but I don’t think it’s his decision,” Neale said.

“Hopefully, he’s back out there but I thought `JL’ (Jarryd Lyons) did a great job in his absence, so if he doesn’t get up, we know that ‘JL’ can provide a fair bit for us.”

Experienced midfielder Lyons made the most of a rare AFL opportunity this season with 29 disposals against the Eagles.

Neale was also impressed with Jack Gunston’s six-goal weekend haul after being recalled following his axing last month.

“It wasn’t really that surprising because I’ve seen the work that he’s done over the last month on the track and in the gym … to get his body right,” the 2020 Brownlow medallist said of the former Hawks star.