Lachie Neale reveals grand final injury battle during Lions win

Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale felt “something snap” in his foot during Brisbane’s premiership triumph at the MCG.

Lachie Neale speaks about his foot injury in the aftermath of Brisbane's premiership triumph.

Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale felt “something snap” in his foot in the final term of Brisbane’s 60-point grand final triumph over Sydney at the MCG.

But he was completely unbothered by it as the Lions’ euphoric celebrations continued into Sunday after their dominant 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) triumph over the Swans.

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The 31-year-old, who was superb from the middle as the Lions seized control of the grand final with a seven goal to one second term, had his foot in ice in the rooms after the triumph.

Neale, who has been receiving painkilling injections in his heel for at least a month in order to be able to train on Thursdays and play on weekends, believes the problem is separate to that issue.

Lachie Neale speaks about his foot injury in the aftermath of Brisbane's premiership triumph.

However, speaking during Brisbane’s premiership celebrations on Sunday morning, Neale wasn’t the slightest bit fazed by the prospect of lengthy injury rehab.

“I couldn’t give a s**t,” he said.

“It’s a little bit sore this morning but that’s probably because I was up until 6am on it, so the physio has put me in a boot this morning.

“I’ll be fine, mate.”

Asked on Saturday whether he believed it was related to his plantar fascia, Neale said “probably” but will consult a specialist this week.

“At the start of the last quarter, something snapped in my foot. That is why I was hobbling,” he said.

Neale said he had a scan on the heel after the Lions brilliant preliminary final triumph over Geelong, but told the club’s medical staff he did not want to know what the image revealed until after the season was over.

The former Docker, who played in the Fremantle team beaten by Hawthorn in 2013 and the Lions team which fell to Collingwood last year, gathered 35 disposals and was voted second-best afield behind Will Ashcroft.

A five-time best and fairest with Fremantle and Brisbane, he said the reason for shifting clubs was related to his belief the Lions could clinch a premiership.

“I probably thought it would take maybe five, six years, and it has, but we’ve sort of been around the mark that whole time,” he said.

“And yeah, to get the reward today, it’s worth every heartbreak over the last 13 years, really.”

Originally published as Lachie Neale reveals grand final injury battle during Lions win