AFL trade news: Brisbane star Lachie Neale could request trade back to Fremantle Dockers
It hasn’t happened yet, but Lachie Neale’s trade request appears inevitable — and Brisbane powerbrokers have made their own decision on the Brownlow medallist.
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Brisbane would not hold Brownlow Medal star Lachie Neale against his will if he made an official trade request that he wanted to head home to West Australia.
The Lions met with Neale at the Gabba on Monday in a meeting where he pointedly did not yet request that trade despite confirming he was weighing up a move back home.
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That request would seem inevitable given his wife Jules is keen to return to Perth to be closer to her family as she awaits the arrival of the couple’s first daughter.
But Neale made clear he was genuinely torn by the family’s circumstances and even at one point suggested he would not be asking for a trade.
The Lions made clear from the start of the meeting they understood the tough position he was in, but he told them he needed more time to consider his future.
It means the Lions are genuinely in the dark about his intentions but fearing the trade request will surely come after he spends time with his family coming up with a concrete position.
While rival clubs have at times refused to trade their star players, Brisbane has built a culture with senior coach Chris Fagan of strong relationships with players.
It means Fagan would accept Neale’s request if it came and only knock back a deal if the Dockers were unable to come up with adequate compensation.
The club said in a statement: “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.”
Brisbane is understanding of Neale’s position despite moving to Brisbane only three years ago on a five-year deal because many Lions players and staff are in similar positions.
Fagan has grandchildren he has only seen twice in 12 months given the restrictions of Covid.
The Neales are aware that having a baby in Brisbane with family in Perth, which is adamant it will close its borders long after the nation hits 80 per cent vaccination, will mean they have no help with their daughter for the foreseeable future.
While they might have foreseen having a family in Brisbane, the world has changed in ways they could never have predicted given harsh travel restrictions that could continue into next year.
Brisbane is not yet at the point of considering replacements for Neale given there is still some small hope he might remain.
But with Neale’s manager Tim Lawrence contacting the club post-meeting to thank them for the way the meeting was conducted, the Lions have not burnt bridges should he decide to stay.
Fremantle must now come up with a trade that would get a deal done if Neale makes a request while also attempting to get maximum compensation for the departing Adam Cerra.
The Herald Sun understands Cerra is yet to officially choose Carlton as his home given his interest in the Demons.
If he had his way he would be more likely to want to join best mate Ed Langdon at the Demons but they have no first-round pick so could not get a trade done.
The Dockers would only have interest in off-limits stars like ruckman Luke Jackson, so Cerra will have to choose the Blues.
Hawthorn had some preliminary interest in Cerra but it has cooled, with Cerra told early on the priority was to return home rather than pick a club of choice.
Carlton’s No.6 draft pick will help and with Sydney free agent George Hewett a strong chance to join him at the Blues the midfield suddenly has a strong defensive focus.
Fake tweet leaves star shaken as Lions set shock Neale meeting
Brisbane are set to meet with Lachie Neale this afternoon to ask him about his future plans after a bombshell trade report.
The Lions’ football powerbrokers including CEO Greg Swan and coach Chris Fagan are set to thrash out Neale’s plans after being blindsided by his desire to leave,
football boss Danny Daly admitted the club had no idea of plans which had swirled for some days in West Australia about Neale and wife Julie’s plans to return to Perth.
It comes as a shaken and angry Mitch Robinson was forced to clarify that a fake tweet abusing Neale for his potential departure had not come from him.
It’s fake
— Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) September 5, 2021
In another new low for social media, the fake tweet was circulated on Sunday night.
The Lions were quickly made aware of the tweet in discussions on Sunday night as they had their own crisis meetings regarding Neale’s future.
In principle the Lions could refuse to deal with Neale on a trade request for a deal with two seasons to run given he is their best player.
The Western Bulldogs last year made clear to Josh Dunkley he would be traded only in exceptional circumstances that secured them two first-round picks.
He ultimately stayed and is now happy again at the club, but it would be harder to rebuff Neale given the family circumstances, only exacerbated by Covid.
Many interstate players have been able to get home for any meaningful period to see their families, with Julie due with a baby daughter in coming months.
In his three seasons with Brisbane Neale was twice All Australian and won a Brownlow Medal for a team that crashed out of the finals in straight sets on Saturday against the Western Bulldogs.
It is understood he wants to return to the Dockers, who are set to secure pick 6 from Carlton as part of a trade deal for Adam Cerra and could hand that selection back to the Lions.
It would give the Lions pick six as well as two first rounders they currently have in the upcoming trade period to go to the market for his replacement.
Neale, 28, came to the Lions after they gave up pick six, 19 and 55 and got Neale and pick 30 back from the Dockers.
However, club great Matthew Pavlich has warned the Dockers to be cautious in trading for Neale.
Pavlich said his former club are “a team to watch in 2022” but added that a deal for Neale should not be done “at all costs.
“There’s a bit of noise around that (Neale),” Pavlich told SEN.
“I think it’s well known within a few circles that Lachie and Jules (wife) have been keen to look at their options to come back home at some stage.
“For it to be now and the situation they’ve got with their pending little bub coming, it’s a good news morning for Dockers supporters.
“It’s the same with any player that wants to come to your club, whether it be someone who has already been there like Lachie Neale or someone new with a Brownlow Medal around their neck, you make sure you get the deal done – but it can’t be at all costs.
“It needs to be in the broader context of your list management profile and plan. Lachie’s a bit older than he was when he left three or four years ago. How many more years has he got? What are we paying him? What are we giving in terms to get him back?
“It can’t be at all costs, and I think that’s the point with all trades and free agency stuff, it has to be a part of your plan and strategy.”
Pavlich said there had been “noise” around a potential move for Neale back to the Dockers, who missed the finals in 2021, for some time.
Neale has two more seasons left on a significant contract of around $800,000 a season at the Lions but it might be hard for Brisbane to refuse his request on family grounds.
While the Lions would be reeling at the likely departure of Neale, there are players at rival clubs they could hunt as an instant replacement.
Hawks Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara shape as players who Hawthorn might trade for the right picks, while Sydney’s Luke Parker is a free agent looking for a four-year deal on $700,000.
Like many players across the competition Neale and his wife have struggled to see their extended family for any prolonged period of time given Covid issues.
The Dockers would secure Neale as an upgrade to midfielder Adam Cerra and boast one of footy’s most imposing midfields in Sean Darcy, Neale, Andrew Brayshaw and Nathan Fyfe.
They had offered as much as $750,000 a season to Neale so they would have enough cap space to recontract Neale.
But sources believe Rory Lobb could still leave the Dockers if there is a suitor prepared to pay his wage, with Fremantle not seen to be desperate to retain him despite their public stance.
The Dockers have little interest in West Australian Sam Petrevski-Seton but are keen on Geelong’s Jordan Clark to add to their outside pace.
Jules posted about her pregnancy in March, saying the couple were expecting a baby girl.
“We have dreamt about meeting you for a long time now, little one,” she wrote on Instagram.
‘The road to you was long and trying but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It has changed me. The journey to you has made me realise I am stronger than I ever thought I could be and I can do anything with your dad’s support.”
The couple had initially been keen to escape the fishbowl environment of Perth when Neale requested a trade to Brisbane, with the midfield star keen to thrive away from the shadow of close mate Fyfe.
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