Unrestricted Free Agent Lachie Neale [OOC/RFA 2026]

[Toump Ass]

Not sure how you came to this conclusion.

Because some idiot compared Steven May to Dirty Pig Lachie Neale.

 

[mpal6]

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.

People are getting hung up on "Neale and Serong are the same", but when there is an opportunity to get 2 elite players together you always take it as a club. Especially when one of them is a 2x Brownlow, 2x premiership player. Neale is ahead by a long way in comparison to O'Meara, Erasmus, Johnson etc.

Neale would also help Murphy Reid stay forward where he's best utilized in terms of Fremantle list balance. Reid kicked 25 in his debut year, serong-brayshaw-neale all kicked 3. There is no rush to move Reid to the middle but maintain his forward presence as another avenue to get goals.

 

[eastfreo75]

People are getting hung up on "Neale and Serong are the same", but when there is an opportunity to get 2 elite players together you always take it as a club. Especially when one of them is a 2x Brownlow, 2x premiership player. Neale is ahead by a long way in comparison to O'Meara, Erasmus, Johnson etc.

Neale would also help Murphy Reid stay forward where he's best utilized in terms of Fremantle list balance. Reid kicked 25 in his debut year, serong-brayshaw-neale all kicked 3. There is no rush to move Reid to the middle but maintain his forward presence as another avenue to get goals.

Did the Grundy/Gawn experiment work?

 

[mpal6]

Did the Grundy/Gawn experiment work?

It's not even the same role for starters. But if Fremantle supporters firmly believe getting Neale is going to ruin your chances at a premiership, then it makes total sense. I am in full agreement with your list management approach - please don't take him

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

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

Yeah, the odds are he will be very keen to get back to Perth after not seeing the kids nuch in 2026.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Because some idiot compared Steven May to Dirty Pig Lachie Neale.

Neither can claim to be quality human beings...

 

[Cyclops]

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.

I feel as though Neale can offer a bit around the ball as well as in the packs. I seem to recall him hovering behind the packs at Docklands I think in 2024 when they touched us up (when that kid got his jumper torn off), it was unexpected for him to the the receiver but it worked that night.

Pies managed to fit Taylor Adams and Tom Mitchell rotating through half forward. They were able to run as sort-of taggers too (Mitchell most famously on Neale in the 23 GF, although there were a lot of rotations).

Neale is a step above these two, and it might seem a waste to run such a gold mining midfielder as a run-with or a half forward part time, but a competent coaching panel can organise a balance: I think Longmuir is a decent tactical coach, and his crew are up to it.

If Serong and Neale could benefit from less coalface time and be productive elsewhere it might be a cracking set up.

However the Gawn/Grundy example does loom, so I can see the knock. Maybe less time off the ball would be a waste of both blokes time, and as you say they aren't short of mids.

 

[StevoJenkins]

Neale will probably retire at season's end. Aside from his Aussie man interview where he claimed his expiry date was 2026/27 (can't quite remember), he's been getting his feet wet in the construction industry in Brisbane.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Neale will probably retire at season's end. Aside from his Aussie man interview where he claimed his expiry date was 2026/27 (can't quite remember), he's been getting his feet wet in the construction industry in Brisbane.

May need more money now for a divorce...

 

[StevoJenkins]

May need more money now for a divorce...

The money he's looking at post-footy would be pretty good for one not in professional sports. Would depend on how much longer he thinks can go on.

He's been playing badly injured for years, may just decide it's not worth moving to another state, as I don't think we'd keep him on McCluggage money. He'd have to be on current Zorko money.

 

[Daka]

I feel like he is going to go back, Brisbane Lions have a stacked list with a lot talent that will need to be paid.

At his age, I think he will be taking a big paycut regardless of how good he plays in 2026.
Which means, I think probably get more at the Eagles if they wanted experience.

 

[Maboo]

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

LOL Port, Demons

 

[Maboo]

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.

What's the name of the song originally sung br JJ Cale and then by Eric Clapton

 

[Johnny Bananas]

An issue with adding Neale to the Freo midfield is that you're adding another midfielder that doesn't really play elsewhere well alongside Serong and Brayshaw.

What do you mean, he's been fine playing at half forward and kicking goals.

 

[mighty_lions]

Because some idiot compared Steven May to Dirty Pig Lachie Neale.

lachie could cheat on his wife a 1000 times with a thousand hookers and it still wouldnt change what a shit bloke Steven may is, theres a reason why everyone wants to belt him and hes so dumb, I know hes a footballer but hes next level dumb

 

[Elixuh]

A f1 for the compromised 2027 draft gets this done. Over to you wce and freo, begin your bidding.

 

[eaglevision]

A f1 for the compromised 2027 draft gets this done. Over to you wce and freo, begin your bidding.

Possibly the most absurd suggestion I’ve seen for a 33 year old, let alone the fact that he’s a free agent.

 

[Toump Ass]

What's the name of the song originally sung br JJ Cale and then by Eric Clapton

COCAINE!!!

Personally I think it's a very boring drug, but I don't want to yuck other people's yum.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

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

That's okay, neither he nor any other good players want to go to your club either.

 

[eastfreo75]

A f1 for the compromised 2027 draft gets this done. Over to you wce and freo, begin your bidding.

Hello Dom

 

[Elixuh]

Possibly the most absurd suggestion I’ve seen for a 33 year old, let alone the fact that he’s a free agent.

You need to start bidding, otherwise Freo will swoop in under your nose. You’re on the clock now.

 

[eaglevision]

You need to start bidding, otherwise Freo will swoop in under your nose. You’re on the clock now.

Do you understand how free agency works?

 

[Elixuh]

Do you understand how free agency works?

That’s not a bid

 

[eaglevision]

That’s not a bid

Exactly. Glad we’re on the same page.

 

[mpal6]

You need to start bidding, otherwise Freo will swoop in under your nose. You’re on the clock now.

They're used to swooping anyway. Koby Evans they didn't mind as much but Charlie Banfield really got the pitchforks out on their board.