Stat that drives Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale

Lachie Neale has been the standout midfielder in 2020 and is thriving on the challenges a compressed AFL season has presented.

Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale has worked hard to find more space in matches. Picture: Michael Klein

In an age where fantasy football has given armchair fans the power to be the judge, jury and executioner, every player has his price.

The obvious categories on which judgment can be made are easily accessible. Kicks, disposals, marks, tackles and goals are there in black and white after every match.

Harder to decipher is a player’s capacity to apply pressure, to provide space for a teammate with a block, to place a kick to a teammate’s advantage or to enable or prevent a goal.

On Monday, dominant Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale gave an insight into what is driving his excellence in 2020 and the statistical measure he values the most.

The 27-year-old had much to consider after an outstanding performance against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night as the Lions returned to second on the ladder.

The former Dockers star gathered 36 disposals, with half of them claimed in a contest.

He was able to drive the football inside Brisbane’s attack one-fifth of the time, cleared the ball from congestion every third time he won the Sherrin and also managed to snare a goal for his efforts.

But the statistic he places the most value on is how much ground he makes driving the ball forward, which was measured at 538 metres.

Neale, whose effort to kick at least one goal and gather 25 or more possessions in seven games in 2020 is far in advance of his peers, has worked hard to improve in that area.

“I think as an inside midfielder, I spent probably 95 per cent of my time on ball and clearances and probably contested football are important to me,” he said.

“But I have worked really hard on having a good balance, on not just being a good inside player, but trying to be more damaging on the outside.

“I don’t take too much note of the numbers but certainly my metres gained this year has gone up from previous years.

“I used to probably handball a little bit too much sideways and backwards but I am moving the ball forward a lot more this year than I previously have.”

Games in 2020 with 25+ disposals & 1+ goals
1x: 35 players
2x: 7 players
3x: Sam Menegola, Steele Sidebottom, Ollie Wines
4x:
5x:
6x:
7x: LACHIE NEALE

@brisbanelions #AFLLionsDogs @AFL

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) August 8, 2020

The key, Neale told RSN 927, was the added core and leg strength he has gained as he has matured.

“I am working extremely hard … on keeping my feet and driving forward out of stoppages and I have certainly improved in that area, but I have a long way to go to get to where I want to go with that,” he said.

The added strength has also enabled Neale to maintain his form and consistency despite the clear challenges the compressed season has raised for players.

Some coaches have made strategic decisions to either rest players from matches or position them in attack, as Geelong did with Patrick Dangerfield against the Kangaroos last Wednesday.

In good news for those who have backed Neale into $1.60 favouritism with the TAB to win the Brownlow Medal, the Lions midfielder feels in fine physical shape and his form is strong with six games remaining in the regular season.

The length of matches this year is about 20 per cent shorter than normal but this has scarcely had an impact on Neale.

He is winning only one fewer possession per game, taking more marks and laying almost as many tackles as he did in 2019.

Watch Footy LIVE & On-Demand Every Day from July 29 - August 17 with Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

A by-product of his determination to be more of a threat when bursting into the clear is the fact he is averaging one goal per match. This is double his career average over nine seasons.

After playing four matches in 13 days culminating in the triumph over the Western Bulldogs, the Lions have a rare luxury heading into a clash against North Melbourne on Saturday.

For the first time since spending time in a hub in Sydney, they will be able to train properly, which should allow the Lions further fuel to flourish.

“I am feeling really good. The body is feeling really good,” Neale said.

“The structure throughout our four or five days breaks did not involve a lot of training, rather more recovery and a lot of stretching. I am ready to go again.

“We have a seven day break now, which is good, but I pulled up quite well and most of the guys are the same, so credit to our fitness staff for getting us through.”

LISTEN |@lachieneale joined us, the @brisbanelions are sitting 2nd on the table and showing plenty of momentum in the run to the finals

https://t.co/pn1rfcSdwi

— RSN Breakfast Club (@RSNBreakfast) August 9, 2020

In good news for the Lions, scans confirmed star forward Charlie Cameron sustained no structural damage to his knee after scare on Saturday night.