Lachie Neale could end up at neither Brisbane nor in Western Australia next season, with the Lions star understood to be considering other options, including making the move to South Australia.
The 32-year-old, who is out of contract this year, has been heavily linked with a switch to West Coast or a return to Fremantle after ex-wife Jules moved to Perth with their two children, Piper and Freddie, following their messy separation.
But Neale has long insisted that his preference is to remain a Lion. However, a move to South Australia is firming as a serious option for the veteran midfielder, with his kids a major considering in his next move.
On Fox Sports’ Midweek Tackle on Monday, Jon Ralph revealed South Australian teams – Port Adelaide and Adelaide – could be ready to swoop, with Neale’s parents, who live in South Australia. often chauffeuring his children around the country.
“August is D-Day, he’ll assess all of the clubs who are interested in him — and you’d say ‘why would a club other than those two states (Queensland and WA) have a chance?’” Ralph began on Fox Footy.
“Well, the issue is that his parents ferry his young kids across the country when he does see them, and that’s been quite regularly, but he hasn’t really got a lot of family or help in Brisbane.
“I think there are clubs in Adelaide that would say ‘okay, his parents live in Robe (in South Australia), so three or four hours south (of Adelaide), and if it was that we could offer him a deal that might satisfy him, he’s close by to Perth, where he’s only got his immediate family, what about if, say, an Adelaide or Port said ‘two years at $750,000’?”
Midweek Tackle panellist Scott Gullan added: “I’d do it in a heartbeat. Adelaide’s got issues around the ball, as we know. He’s still an amazing athlete … ultimate professional, leadership — I’d have two years, pay him what he wants, get him to Adelaide, it makes sense.”
The 32-year-old showed he still has it on the weekend in an incredible 42-disposal display in last weekend’s win over Adelaide.
Neale, who is understood to be spending as much time as possible with Jules and their two children in Western Australia, has already been told by Brisbane coach Chris Fagan, “we’re not going to hold anyone to ransom” when he was asked about his former captain’s future.
Despite the messy break-up, both Jules and Lachie are making sure they put their kids first, with Neale making the flight to Perth whenever he gets the chance during the current AFL season.
But the reality is, he is spending the majority of the season away from his kids.
If he ends up deciding it is just too painful to be away from his kids, both Fremantle and West Coast would be willing to snap him up.
Both clubs have made it clear they are interested in Neale, but if it came to a battle of capital, the Eagles would blow their WA rivals out of the water, as they have millions in free cap space.
At Brisbane, he is searching for a third flag and trying to become a Lions immortal.
While the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide are also potential landing spots and would allow him to have more family support around him.
