Prolific Lachie Neale helping Lions regain their pride

When Lachie Neale was in Brisbane last September, he was struck by just how ordinary life seemed.

Brisbane Lions midfielder Lachie Neale at the Gabba. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

When Lachie Neale was in Brisbane last September, he was struck by just how ordinary life seemed.

There were no sideways glances towards him. No one batted an eyelid or turned to a friend to point out that a star was among them.

And what made the anonymity feel even more remarkable to the Brownlow Medal contender is that he was striding alongside Lions senior coach Chris Fagan.

In Perth, it is nigh on impossible to pick up the newspaper, flick on talkback or switch on the TV without mention of the Eagles or the Dockers … and that is in the off-season.

“Clearly the Australian public as a whole love their footy but in times when we were not going as well, it could be difficult,” Neale, who joined the Lions from Fremantle at the end of last year, said.

“It takes away that pressure. The guys don’t have to be caught up in as much negative discussion.”

The resurgence of the Lions after a decade of despair has prompted some changes, he said.

A bright start to the season saw the Courier-Mail lead with Brisbane’s Easter Thursday clash against Collingwood. There was significant prominence in local media when the Lions hosted Geelong in a top-of-the-table clash in round 22.

And Brisbane’s biggest clash at the Gabba in 15 years, a qualifying final against Richmond on Saturday night, sold out days ago.

“I could tell a big difference at the start of the preseason and also the start of the season,” he said.

“There are a lot more people who will say ‘well played’ or ‘you played great’ and guys probably have not experienced that for a while. Coming into the finals, you are getting more recognised compared to when I first came up.”

As Neale prepares for the Lions’ first final since 2009, the decision to move from Perth must be considered a success. The prolific 26-year-old midfielder is the second favourite for the Brownlow Medal and the Lions have booked a double chance in the finals after a superb season.

Stream every match of the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Neale said the initial decision to move east proved extremely difficult but the midfielder was not worried about himself.

He had moved from his mum’s farm near Naracoorte to boarding school in Adelaide at the age of 14, and was drafted to Fremantle four years later.

But his wife Julie is from Perth and had her family, friends and her own business to consider.

“I have made many lifelong friends out of Fremantle and my wife is from there, so considering her was the biggest hurdle,” he said.

“She tried to run it from here and did it for a little bit but it was pretty tough and she had to sell the salon, though she got work here super quick.

“I think, for me, it was obviously a tough decision. I loved playing for Fremantle but I felt my style of play would suit Brisbane.”

What helped clinch the move was the assistance offered by senior Lions administrators including Fagan, Greg Swann and David Noble.

Not only did they go the extra mile for Neale, their families helped Julie feel at home in a new city as well, which he is extremely grateful for.

“Probably just the nature of everyone involved in the footy club is great,” he said.

“It is not just the players but also the coaches, the administration and medical teams.

“There are a lot of different characters and the football club embraces that and brings everyone together. It allowed me to come in and be myself. It is a pretty special group to be a part of.”

A student of football, Neale watched the Lions closely while doing his regular video analysis of games when a Docker.

In discussions with Fagan, it became clear that a change of club could prove mutually beneficial.

“I thought they could help me become a better player. I want to achieve success,” he said.

“They probably didn’t have a player that had what I could bring. I could help grow those players and help them to become a better team.”

The evidence is indisputable — both the footballer and club are excelling, with former Carlton captain Mark Maclure saying recently Neale had proven himself a truly outstanding footballer.