Speculation Lachie Neale [OOC/RFA 2026]

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

If you put player's salary vs their age in a bell curve, Neale's at the tail end of it.

Anyone paying 800k for him at 33 have only themselves to blame.

I think 2 time Brownlow Medalists have their own curve . Id bet a absolute crap load that Adelaide would give him 2 year 1.6 mill deal in a heartbeat and he would go there over say Eagles 2 X 1 if that is what you think the offer would be

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I think 2 time Brownlow Medalists have their own curve . Id bet a absolute crap load that Adelaide would give him 2 year 1.6 mill deal in a heartbeat and he would go there over say Eagles 2 X 1 if that is what you think the offer would be

Would be more than handy at the Crows, but in suspect he will head to WA to be near his kids.

 

[Descent]

He'll have his support network around him this way rather than go WA and be in an environment where he has limited foundation.

He’s not the child, he’s the father. He is the support network for them. Stop infantilising a grown man.

 

[1970crow]

Given the events of the past few days, presumably there's going to be a lot of speculation about Lachie Neale moving to WA at the end of next year given he will be out of contract with the Lions and a restricted free agent.

He'll be 33 at end of next year and unlikely to be able to command big money despite his accolades.

I assume Freo don't really have a need that he can fill, so is it just going to be a case of Eagles offering a contract that the Lions will choose not to match and will get some late compo? Or could Eagles suggest he nominate for Pre-season Draft and Lions will get nothing?

He probably is, but mightn’t be restricted. We’ll find out when the AFL release their list.

 

[1970crow]

I guess when you've won the last 2 GF's, you can afford to be tough.

I agree in principle though.
Thought we should've made a play for him.

You most likely did, but seems he was intent on Adelaide. You could have grabbed him, paid him his frontloaded year and he’d have been good enough. But then he asks for a trade and you’re offered a 2nd rounder. Is it worth the hassle, I don’t think so. Now if NWM went to the PSD, you’d wear the $3m in year one and trade him for 2 firsts and change. Perfect use of salary cap space. A mid 2nd, not so much.

 

[mpal6]

He’s not the child, he’s the father. He is the support network for them. Stop infantilising a grown man.

Grown men need support too. No one's condoning his mistake but he doesn't need to face everything on his own going forward to please the lynch mob.

Neale will face the music, Jules will take him to cleaners - everyone will move on. World is not going to end here. Stop getting so worked up about it.

 

[Wild Bill]

Your post seem to make it sound like big bad Brisbane standing in the way - he'll be 33 and a great pickup for any club in WA. He'll move if he chose to.

I don't buy the tarnishing reputation angle that you're going for either, there are plenty of families out there where dad travels all year for work and other reasons - Neale can easily find a balance between spending time with kids and still playing at one of the SA clubs for example. He'll have his support network around him this way rather than go WA and be in an environment where he has limited foundation.

How often would he see them living in QLD or SA? Twice a month?? That slides into dead beat dad territory.

 

[Tonythetiger]

I think it's absolutely nuts to say that the Dockers wouldn't grab him if they can fit him into their salary cap. Eagles can offer more for sure, but even if you look at him as insurance if a first choice mid goes down, this is the kind of list management that can make the difference when going deep in September.

 

[Toump Ass]

Wouldn't want that dirty bastard at my club, that's for sure.

 

[Jirik13]

Wouldn't want that dirty bastard at my club, that's for sure.

Good for you. No chance that to happen.

How about May? Happy to have him at your club? Surely, you know what happen on GC before him leaving?

 

[eastfreo75]

Wouldn't want that dirty bastard at my club, that's for sure.

Don't so holier than thou.

Every single club would have cheaters.

AFL players are ego and girls throwing themselves at them,

Easy to judge when you only chance is your right hand.

 

[Toump Ass]

Good for you. No chance that to happen.

How about May? Happy to have him at your club? Surely, you know what happen on GC before him leaving?

There's already a thread to discuss Steven May, you can pose this question there if you like. This is a thread about dirty bastard Lachie Neale who was recently busted plowing his wife's weird mormon friend. Wouldn't want that deadbeat at my club.

 

[1970crow]

I think it's absolutely nuts to say that the Dockers wouldn't grab him if they can fit him into their salary cap. Eagles can offer more for sure, but even if you look at him as insurance if a first choice mid goes down, this is the kind of list management that can make the difference when going deep in September.

You’d think a genuinely contending side would be pretty keen to have a Lachie Neale punching out 50% TOG when you need a bit of a spark. Freo should be falling over themselves to talk to him. West Coast too, but for a different reason.

 

[Jirik13]

There's already a thread to discuss Steven May, you can pose this question there if you like. This is a thread about dirty bastard Lachie Neale who was recently busted plowing his wife's weird mormon friend. Wouldn't want that deadbeat at my club.

No need. Just sounds to me like a double standard from you. All good.

 

[eastfreo75]

You’d think a genuinely contending side would be pretty keen to have a Lachie Neale punching out 50% TOG when you need a bit of a spark. Freo should be falling over themselves to talk to him. West Coast too, but for a different reason.

Do you think Neale would be ok with game time and salary reduction?

 

[1970crow]

Do you think Neale would be ok with game time and salary reduction?

Yes.

 

[mpal6]

There's already a thread to discuss Steven May, you can pose this question there if you like. This is a thread about dirty bastard Lachie Neale who was recently busted plowing his wife's weird mormon friend. Wouldn't want that deadbeat at my club.

There's already a thread in scandal board which talks about Neale off field stuff. Please feel free to post there so we can avoid polluting this thread as well with off field only spam narrative.

 

[mpal6]

You’d think a genuinely contending side would be pretty keen to have a Lachie Neale punching out 50% TOG when you need a bit of a spark. Freo should be falling over themselves to talk to him. West Coast too, but for a different reason.

Its so weird Freo supporters are not seeing what a Neale addition could do to their midfield and list depth in general. They'll go from finals worthy to a prelim / grand final level in no time. Crazy.

 

[mpal6]

How often would he see them living in QLD or SA? Twice a month?? That slides into dead beat dad territory.

How they make it work is up to them. Who knows, he'll be at Lions for 2026 so we may get a glimpse of how it'll work.

Lions may even give him more time off to help get around his travel schedule etc - because we have the depth and we can help accommodate it.

 

[1970crow]

Its so weird Freo supporters are not seeing what a Neale addition could do to their midfield and list depth in general. They'll go from finals worthy to a prelim / grand final level in no time. Crazy.

3-4 years ago Danger was out of contract and there was a story about a potential return to Adelaide. 9/10 posters wouldn’t have him back. 9/10 posters are emotional children. Would think Freo posters no different.

 

[EBERT THE KING]

Not sure why you're naming your primary midfield when I was clearly comparing him to a new 18 year old draftee in terms of a future list spot.

But since you've made this claim, your second string that you call upon for depth like Erasmus, Johnson etc - Neale is currently well above their level it's not even funny.

Thats a good point.

Realistically, he will want to go to Freo. Whether or not they can make it happen is the next question.

 

[Wild Bill]

How they make it work is up to them. Who knows, he'll be at Lions for 2026 so we may get a glimpse of how it'll work.

Lions may even give him more time off to help get around his travel schedule etc - because we have the depth and we can help accommodate it.

True. You’re so good you can give him time off and get him prime for finals. It will be a tough year for him.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Its so weird Freo supporters are not seeing what a Neale addition could do to their midfield and list depth in general. They'll go from finals worthy to a prelim / grand final level in no time. Crazy.

Real football is not fantasy football. The job is to assemble a balanced squad that maximises strengths and minimises weaknesses across all lines so you can win a flag. Im not sure how freo getting in yet another small midfielder assists that.

 

[Toump Ass]

No need. Just sounds to me like a double standard from you.

So you're accusing Steven May of using sex workers and rooting his wife's best mate while she was home looking after his two children..?

 

[Jirik13]

So you're accusing Steven May of using sex workers and rooting his wife's best mate while she was home looking after his two children..?

Not sure how you came to this conclusion. All I am saying knowing well what May did on GC to his fiancee just before wedding that you got a 'bastard' on your team too.