By Daniel Cherny and Jon Pierik
The Brisbane Lions have granted Lachie Neale time to weigh up whether he seeks to break his significantly front-ended contract and request a move back to Fremantle.
The Lions had been left in the dark when it emerged on Sunday night that Neale, 28, was contemplating asking to return to the Dockers despite having two years left to run on his contract.
Lachie Neale is tackled during the round 23 match between the Brisbane Lions and the West Coast Eagles at the Gabba.Credit: AFL Photos
Brisbane organised a meeting with Neale on Monday and later confirmed that Neale and his heavily pregnant wife Jules were considering whether they wanted to return to Western Australia.
Neale joined the Lions three years ago, moving from the Dockers despite having one year left to run on his contract with the club that drafted him from South Australia in 2011.
He signed a five-year contract with Brisbane, one that industry sources confirmed was front-loaded, meaning a disproportionate amount of Neale’s salary has already been paid to the star midfielder.
The Dockers would be in the box seat to claim Neale should Brisbane agree to trade him back to WA, with West Coast indicating earlier this year they would head towards the draft rather than try to bring in a big name target from another club.
Key Fremantle figures had been aware before Sunday night that Neale was entertaining the potential move back although a report that Neale had already spoken to Dockers coach Justin Longmuir was incorrect according to well-placed sources.
Fremantle are likely to have extra draft capital to deal for Neale with Adam Cerra requesting a move back to Victoria, where Carlton are favoured to secure his services.
While Neale is from SA, Jules is from WA and her capacity to spend time with family has been severely hamstrung over the past 18 months because of WA Premier Mark McGowan’s hardline border stance, a position that McGowan has indicated could extend into 2022.
“The Brisbane Lions have today met with midfielder Lachie Neale,” the Lions said in a statement on Monday afternoon.
“Lions CEO Greg Swann, GM of football Danny Daly and senior coach Chris Fagan sat down with the Brownlow medallist following reports he was seeking to return to Western Australia.
“Neale and his wife Jules are expecting their first child and he has confirmed the couple are weighing up where they would like to raise their family.
“He did not request a trade but has asked for some time to have further discussions with his wife and family.
“The Lions will not make any further comment at this stage and we request that Lachie and Jules’ privacy be respected.”
Daly said on Monday morning that the club was unaware of Neale’s interest in returning to Perth.
Lachie Neale of the Lions poses with his wife Jules after winning the Brownlow Medal.Credit: Getty Images
“I can’t make any comments because I haven’t spoken to Lachie. I think the club will come out and make a statement sometime this afternoon once we’ve had a chance to speak to Lachie and work through it,” Daly told Radio TAB in Brisbane.
“It’s all news to us. As far as we’re concerned, he’s got two years of his contract left and that’s where it is at.”
Neale won the Brownlow Medal last year and has been integral to the Lions’ rise over the past three seasons, although they have won only one of six finals in this time and were eliminated in straight sets this season when beaten by Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. Neale had an injury-riddled season but finished with 46 disposals against the Demons, a finals record.
Curiously the Lions won all seven of their matches this year without Neale and had an 8-9 record without him.
Fremantle meanwhile on Monday announced the re-signing of forward Lachie Schultz for two seasons. Schultz had been courted by Hawthorn.
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