Lachie Neale reportedly considering trade from Brisbane back to Fremantle
The AFL season isn’t even over yet but a Brownlow medallist’s shock trade request has taken the football world by surprise.
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Lachie Neale is reportedly considering a move back to Western Australia and is set to request a trade from the Brisbane Lions back to Fremantle — the club where he started his career.
Neale’s wife Jules is pregnant with their first child and they would like to return to Perth to raise their young family, according to Seven News.
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The 28-year-old surprised the AFL world three years ago when he was traded from the Dockers to Brisbane.
Neale was the Lions’ best and fairest winner in his first two years at the club and also won the Brownlow Medal in 2020 in dominant fashion — 10 votes ahead of runner-up Travis Boak.
He has been plagued with injuries this season but showed glimpses of his best football, including a 46-disposal game against Melbourne in the qualifying final last weekend.
But Neale may have already played his last game for Brisbane after the Lions were eliminated from the finals in Saturday night’s dramatic one-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
It is unclear how a potential trade to Fremantle would work, but the Dockers would likely have the No. 6 draft pick to offer as a result of midfielder Adam Cerra’s impending move to Carlton.
Neale played 135 games for Fremantle and is a two-time best and fairest winner at the Dockers.
The surprising development comes three years after Brisbane gave up picks six, 19, 30 and 55 in the huge 2018 deal to acquire Neale.
Foxfooty.com.au reports Neale has already spoken to Fremantle about his situation.
Neale has two years left to run on his five-year contract with the Lions. No formal trade request has been lodged yet.
The AFL trade period will begin in a few weeks’ time after the grand final is played and the season is completed.
Originally published as Lachie Neale reportedly considering trade from Brisbane back to Fremantle
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