Lachie Neale says he is no closer to determining where his future lies beyond 2026, but hinted his preference was to remain with the Brisbane Lions.
In his first press conference since stepping down from the club’s co-captaincy after his highly publicised marriage breakdown, Neale revealed his daughter, Piper, would attend his 300th AFL game when his side takes on the Melbourne Demons at the MCG on Sunday.
“We will see Piper, so I’m looking forward to seeing her. I didn’t realise, I think there have only been 115 roughly who have done it [played 300 games], so I’ll soak up this week with my family,” Neale said.
The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a move back to Western Australia, with former partner Jules returning to Perth with the pair’s children, but said he would try to find a way to remain with the outfit with which he won the past two premierships.
When asked what would be the prevailing factor in his decision, Neale said, “everything: family, football, my own happiness – there’s a lot that will go into that”.
“I’m nowhere near making a decision yet, but what I do know is I love this football club. I’ll probably try and do everything I can to stay, but if not, then that’s the case,” Neale said.
“We’ll weigh all that up over the next three or four months. I set myself up in the off-season and pre-season to have a strong year, and the body feels great, so hopefully I’ve got a few years left yet.”
Neale addressed a media scrum alongside co-captain Josh Dunkley, who will play his 200th AFL game in the same clash and revealed the opportunity to play alongside Neale was a compelling factor in his decision to move to Queensland from the Western Bulldogs in 2023.
“I remember my first day here at Springfield, he brought me out here, so to do this together … to be part of that history knowing the player he’s been, and is going to be in the future, is pretty special,” Dunkley said of Neale.
“From afar, you see the professional that he is, and you don’t understand how much he goes to work on his game until you see it up front. To be able to understand he’s here, and I might be joining him, was a massive honour.
“For me personally, he’s taught me a lot – I hope I’ve been able to share some stuff with him too – but it’s been nice to be able to build that relationship, and now we’re close mates.”
Neale said the idea that this could be his last season with the Lions was not serving as additional motivation to produce his best form, having failed to kick a goal yet in 2026 but still averaging 29 disposals and almost five inside 50s a game.
“No, not at all. I want to win premierships every year – next year or this year being my last year doesn’t come into it,” Neale said.
“And hopefully, it’s not; hopefully, I’m in a Brisbane jumper until I’m 36.”
Neale’s future could affect how the Lions juggle retaining fellow star Zac Bailey, who has attracted lucrative interest from rivals, having also announced the re-signing of Bruce Reville through to the end of 2029, as well as Zane Zakostelsky for another two seasons.
The floodgates have opened when it comes to the financial offers on the table for the game’s best, led by the $2 million deal inked by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera at St Kilda. But Neale and Dunkley both felt Brisbane were well positioned to keep their all-conquering squad together while still adding new blood as needed.
“I want to win a premiership every year, so if the club can bring in talent that is going to win us premierships and not unbalance the sheet where you lose heaps of players, then I’m happy to bring them in on whatever money,” Neale said.
“There’s a little bit about ‘you could get paid more elsewhere’, but keeping the group together, I think that’s really unique in our culture,” Dunkley added.
“There is something about having that close group and selfless attitude in our group to potentially take a pay cut just for the success of the football club.”
For Brisbane to celebrate Sunday’s respective milestones with a win – their fourth straight triumph – they will need to do so without another veteran in Dayne Zorko, who is expected to be sidelined for three weeks with a calf strain.
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