Mega Thread Non-Freo AFL Discussion 2025

[Mk LXIII]

It’s very easy to castigate men like Lachie Neale, but let’s remember he inhabits a very different world from you. Based on the description of yourself and the mental image I have of you, I would guess you are a 5.5/10 on the Dirty_banchez scale. Not bad, but I’m not turning my head for you.

I am a clear 10/10 summer stunner. And let me tell you, it is not easy to stay faithful when you have bussy and pussy available to you as easily as air. Men like Lachie should be treated like fallen heroes who succumbed to temptation, not men with evil hearts.

Donald?

 

[Fat Nyfe]

I guess we need to start gauging thoughts about Neale returning?

He’s almost guaranteed to be requesting a trade to WA and the end of this year.

Personally it’s a huge no and that’s coming from a previous Neale fan. Old, injured, in a position of excess, and could be a cultural problem now. And Brisbane will want something for him too. Just don’t see how it gets done. WCE and 1-2 years in a position of “leadership” is probably his best bet.

 

[largebus]

He's too similar to Serong and would want big money. Yeah nah

 

[Yeti]

**** him.

 

[Jezzitizle]

 

[gaskin]

Why would we want him at his age? Spots in our midfield are already at a premium.

 

[Kram]

Experience would be invaluable but he will be too old for what he would want to be paid.

 

[Arcassius]

He's human, ****ed up badly, and is dealing with the consequences of that. Football-wise he's too old to pick up now for a position where we have a strong core and solid depth, it wouldn't make sense for where our club is at to bring him in. Might have been different at the time the story broke of him and Jules considering a move - and in retrospect might have been the best thing for his relationship

 

[anchor man]

We have stopped being a half way house for damaged players.
A massive NO from me.

 

[Purple_Turtle]

Would he value as an assistant coach?

 

[Eski3]

See how he goes this year but I'd back Walls' judgement. If they think there's a spot for him I'd be happy to take him, if they don't think there is I'd be happy to pass. I can't see a spot but if they want to rotate him forward for his last couple of years he might fit in the rotation part time. Is still a very quality player

 

[Raz]

If he comes free we take him

Not worth the money he would want

 

[anchor man]

Would he value as an assistant coach?

No.

 

[The Feeder Club]

I definitely don't think we need a dual brownlow medallist and dual premiership captain at our highly successful club in any capacity.
Imagine how much it would undermine the perennial excuses about our young inexperienced playing list, for starters

 

[freo_leo29]

We brought in Mason Cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

34

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

this year, if he came cheap the club would definitely do it

Its whether Brissy would let him go for cheap is the question, they might see value in using his last year of $$ elsewhere (Bailey) while letting him go for what are clearly family reasons

 

[Kram]

We have stopped being a half way house for damaged players.
A massive NO from me.

If it's drugs.. assault.. yesh sure but I don't care who players want to have an a relationship with in their own time.

 

[anchor man]

If it's drugs.. assault.. yesh sure but I don't care who players want to have an a relationship with in their own time.

Why we lost Langdon.
Not good for unity.

 

[Purple Jesus]

Massive yes from me. He’s still a Freo player and played in our only attempt at a flag. Massive experience and a big game player. Knows what it takes, is fond of the club that drafted him. Be stupid to turn him away.

All the moral pearl clutching is genuinely laughable.

 

[freo84]

If Neale asks the question and the price is right there isn't any reason we wouldn't entertain him coming to Freo.

His experience would be so valuable. Imagine rolling out a fit Neale as sub like Brissy did during the grand final.

 

[Dockeroo]

Football wise I think Neale would be a good addition. His last game he racked up 18 disposals in half a game in the grand final despite being injured. Not many of our current list are proven at the level Neale is at.

He’s 32 about to turn 33. This issue for me is will he still be the same high quality player in 2027? Probably, I’d say but this season will tell a lot. We are seeing plenty of players play better for longer into their 30s. If we think he could be one of them (Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Zorko, Tex Walker, etc just some recent examples) - he walks into our B22 for a couple of seasons. How he played this season would tell a lot.

He’s an unrestricted free agent so will cost us nothing in draft capital only salary if we brought him in next year.

The questions about how he’d fit character wise are valid and would need careful consideration. However if anyone thinks all 44 blokes on our list (or indeed any other AFL list) are clean skins that never cheated on their missus - I’ve a bridge to sell you.

Find it very curious how people on the internet have never cheated, stole, or hurt and it’s purely reserved for celebrities or people they know.

Footballers are for the most part morons and the fact they were nice to your kid at a clinic - part of their job - means nothing about the actual human they are.

Of course loads on Bigfooty or on online forums do bad things in their personal lives.

But they don’t get the adoration and wealth and fame of being an elite AFL footballer. Lachie was happy to take advantage of the trappings of fame and a high profile and the flip side is he has to suck up the negative publicity now.
Thats part of the deal when you are a dual Brownlow medalist.

Normal anonymous folk on the internet don’t need to concern themselves with the wealth and benefits of being famous, nor the negative public backlash when they make a **** up.

 

[Dockeroo]

Massive yes from me. He’s still a Freo player and played in our only attempt at a flag. Massive experience and a big game player. Knows what it takes, is fond of the club that drafted him. Be stupid to turn him away.

All the moral pearl clutching is genuinely laughable.

I agree the decision should purely be a football one unless there are players at the club that have major moral objections (which there shouldn’t be).

I swear it’s not enough for some to see freo win a flag - it must also be with 23 guys that are morally superior and more virtuous than all other footy players out there!

 

[s_wd6]

We brought in Mason Cox this year, if he came cheap the club would definitely do it

Its whether Brissy would let him go for cheap is the question, they might see value in using his last year of $$ elsewhere (Bailey) while letting him go for what are clearly family reasons

I’m not a fan of the Cox decision, but even then it makes way more sense than Neale coming in. Reidy gone left a clear hole in the list for an experienced back up ruck.

There is no clear hole that Neale fits into. Before this I thought the experience/leadership would’ve been good off field but I’d like to think bringing in a guy who broke up his family to root his wife’s best friend wouldn’t go over all to well with this group.

With his age and baggage an acquisition makes sense only if there’s a glaring need. And small inside mid is probably the last thing we need.

 

[Stinky Lomax]

No discussions or decisions need to be made on Neale now in any case. Lots to play out before it might even become an option.
Any decision on the morality of it or his physical capabilities need to be made when it’s an option. He’d potentially make a handy small forward though.
But it’s a discussion forum & my opinion is to forget about it & try to win it without him.

 

[Purple Suit]

I guess we need to start gauging thoughts about Neale returning?

He’s almost guaranteed to be requesting a trade to WA and the end of this year.

Personally it’s a huge no and that’s coming from a previous Neale fan. Old, injured, in a position of excess, and could be a cultural problem now. And Brisbane will want something for him too. Just don’t see how it gets done. WCE and 1-2 years in a position of “leadership” is probably his best bet.

He’s out of contract so will get to where he wants for not much. Walking to the PSD can be done with Brisbane who will probably play hard ball again for some strange reason.

Maybe if he elects Freo but WC grow a pair and steal him from us but it would be a pretty funny outcome. Especially if he retired immediately rather than play for them.

 

[anchor man]

I’m not a fan of the Cox decision, but even then it makes way more sense than Neale coming in. Reidy gone left a clear hole in the list for an experienced back up ruck.

There is no clear hole that Neale fits into. Before this I thought the experience/leadership would’ve been good off field but I’d like to think bringing in a guy who broke up his family to root his wife’s best friend wouldn’t go over all to well with this group.

With his age and baggage an acquisition makes sense only if there’s a glaring need. And small inside mid is probably the last thing we need.

Reidy was not an experienced back up ruck.
He was a plodder. He could have been at Freo for another five years and still offered nothing.
Two totally different situations.