Speculation Lachie Neale [OOC/RFA 2026]

[mpal6]

Rumours swirling he is going to request a trade to Victoria to be further away from family

He could go SA - be closer to his family. But if he wants low key media attention then staying in QLD would be the best option for him. Once January rolls over and pre-season picks up, Neale's news will disappear and in Brisbane he'll have less media fanfare compared to Melbourne.

We've already managed this sort of stuff well for Zorko back in 2019 and he's been a weapon for us through premiership years. Club will know what to do if Neale chose to extend with us.

 

[THE_GUN]

People keep saying he's too old for what West Coast need. Uh, what? Are they only looking for players in their prime because they think their premiership window is opening, or something? I thought they just sacrificed an academy player and a father-son because they were using list spots on veteran midfielders to take the brunt of the inside midfield punishment until their youngsters have developed enough to step in. That's exactly what Neale can provide, and to a much higher quality than Robertson or Schoenberg can.

West Coast would jump at the chance to get neal
even as a 34 year old

They have no quality senior players to set standards apart from a couple of ex Tigers
Cole , Owies , Duggan , Cripps , Kelly and a part time Yeo doesnt scream experienced leadership and standard setters
Mini needs all the help he can get and 1-2 years of Neal would be just what he needs

 

[GC2015]

So Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

is a restricted free agent this year, right? Freo and West Coast would be licking their lips already.

 

[rye]

Forget his off field values which are massive problems but neale doesn't strike me as the type to be an effective communicator or mentor on field. Gun player yes but not someone id be picking for an on field coaching role. Hodge had a football brain and was good for that.

For that reason I doubt he gets a contract anywhere in WA (freo dont need him and hes not the right fit for where wce is at) so unless he is going to do 1 more year at brisbane (which would indicate his kids aren't his first priority) then id be expecting he retires

if you think wce wouldnt take neale when he would cost nothing more than some of their ample salary cap space im sorry to say it but you have rocks in your head.

 

[mpal6]

So Lachie Neale is a restricted free agent this year, right? Freo and West Coast would be licking their lips already.

Yep, at 33 he's more than likely to head out to WA to be closer to kids. West Coast should snap him up as player coach in no time.

 

[eastfreo75]

So Lachie Neale is a restricted free agent this year, right? Freo and West Coast would be licking their lips already.

Serong and Reid are our small midfielders. Both are on the rise.

No point in duplication.

Better to recruit a lesser of a player who fills a need than a duplication.

 

[Lach72]

One year contract for pick 110?

I’d consider it.
He could be the difference in a GF

 

[eastfreo75]

One year contract for pick 110?

I’d consider it.
He could be the difference in a GF

Our do you fit Neale, Murphy and Serong in the same midfield?

 

[EBERT THE KING]

He won't be going to Freo.

Theres no way they disrupt this playing group which should be pushing top 4 this year and beyond. They aren't taking minutes away from Serong, Young, Reid etc.

West Coast just need to keep their powder dry. Wait till the last moment and offer a minimum chips deal. They will get him on that as we won't have any other options.

 

[mpal6]

He won't be going to Freo.

Theres no way they disrupt this playing group which should be pushing top 4 this year and beyond. They aren't taking minutes away from Serong, Young, Reid etc.

West Coast just need to keep their powder dry. Wait till the last moment and offer a minimum chips deal. They will get him on that as we won't have any other options.

Freo taking him could be like a Tom Mitchell trade to Collingwood - netting them a premiership in 2023. He won't be demanding a premium contract either which will make it even more attractive.

Couple of years from a dual brownlow medallist which could decide a Grand final will easily outweigh getting some speculative 18 year old kid in draft.

 

[EBERT THE KING]

Freo taking him could be like a Tom Mitchell trade to Collingwood - netting them a premiership in 2023. He won't be demanding a premium contract either which will make it even more attractive.

Couple of years from a dual brownlow medallist which could decide a Grand final will easily outweigh getting some speculative 18 year old kid in draft.

None of Serong, Young, Reid, Brayshaw or Bolton are speculative.

They can win a flag without Neale.

 

[JasRulz63]

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.

 

[Descent]

If he stays in Brisbane beyond 2026 it will tarnish his reputation even further. Nobody wants the bloke who chose not to be reunited with his kids. He will find a way to return (either club) and it will get done for nothing, because nobody wants to be seen as the club that stood in the way of a father being reunited with his kids.

 

[mpal6]

If he stays in Brisbane beyond 2026 it will tarnish his reputation even further. Nobody wants the bloke who chose not to be reunited with his kids. He will find a way to return (either club) and it will get done for nothing, because nobody wants to be seen as the club that stood in the way of a father being reunited with his kids.

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.

 

[mpal6]

None of Serong, Young, Reid, Brayshaw or Bolton are speculative.

They can win a flag without Neale.

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.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

if you think wce wouldnt take neale when he would cost nothing more than some of their ample salary cap space im sorry to say it but you have rocks in your head.

I was pretty clear that I dont think they will take him at all. Happy to revisit this one at the end of the year.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

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.

He is but serong and neale are essentially the same type of player. That would be too many small midfielders (when you factor in that Reid will also end up there) and I doubt the mix would work, they need a couple of bigger bodied and different type of mids to round the mix out.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

if you think wce wouldnt take neale when he would cost nothing more than some of their ample salary cap space im sorry to say it but you have rocks in your head.

Is Lachie going to be playing in our next premiership? Nope. Its just a cowards move to bring him in. 2 years ago it made sense but its just too late in the rebuild to be bringng stopgaps. We need to be spending that money on a guy like Kieren Briggs and Chad Warner. People who will be around but also fill a need

Id be more succinct also and say. If Elliot Yeo retires, bring Neale in. If Elliot Yeo has a season in which he contributes and then plays on in 2027 then Neale isnt needed. \

The absurd logic of Eagles rebuilding and running with a centre square of Reid, Yeo and Neale is idiocy at best.

 

[mpal6]

He is but serong and neale are essentially the same type of player. That would be too many small midfielders (when you factor in that Reid will also end up there) and I doubt the mix would work, they need a couple of bigger bodied and different type of mids to round the mix out.

This is under the assumption Serong, Reid everyone stay 100% fit for the entire season including finals. I'm quite surprised everyone's arguing a dual brownlow medallist won't make their list better. May be it's the Lions formula currently and we bat 8-9 deep in our starting midfield - we have one bigger body in Dunkley and rest are all similar types but it works. So I can see how this will work but others have a different view.

If Freo don't get him it's better for Lions to be honest, he'll make them considerably better in finals/premiership calculations regardless of whose available.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

This is under the assumption Serong, Reid everyone stay 100% fit for the entire season including finals. I'm quite surprised everyone's arguing a dual brownlow medallist won't make their list better. May be it's the Lions formula currently and we bat 8-9 deep in our starting midfield - we have one bigger body in Dunkley and rest are all similar types but it works. So I can see how this will work but others have a different view.

If Freo don't get him it's better for Lions to be honest, he'll make them considerably better in finals/premiership calculations regardless of whose available.

It will make the list better... its the expense that will be the issue. 800k+, the media following a guys dick around town and holding up a spot for a younger player is the issue.

For Freo id put it bluntly and say that if Lachie Neale comes in, Matt Johnson goes out and it would be a case of Freo weighing that up. If we did that the other way and im Eagles id much rather Neale go to Freo and us to poach Matt Johnson then the other way around.... so Freo likely feel the same

 

[eaglevision]

Freo are two years away from genuinely contending for a flag in my view, when their core mids are all in that 26-29 age bracket. Can’t see them getting past Brisbane or GCS before then, which would mean Neale to Dockers wouldn’t make much sense.

Neale to Eagles probably needed to happen this year but with a young group he would add a valuable on field presence and skill set on a rolling 1 year contract or 1 + 1 with a 20 game trigger.

 

[mpal6]

It will make the list better... its the expense that will be the issue. 800k+, the media following a guys dick around town and holding up a spot for a younger player is the issue.

For Freo id put it bluntly and say that if Lachie Neale comes in, Matt Johnson goes out and it would be a case of Freo weighing that up. If we did that the other way and im Eagles id much rather Neale go to Freo and us to poach Matt Johnson then the other way around.... so Freo likely feel the same

He'll be 33, he's not going to charge 800k+. This is why I'm a bit pissed on the timing of all this, Neale in the next 2 years is entering the best value for money phase while still playing high quality footy and Lions are going to miss out cashing that in.

He relies on one-touch footy, bursting from traffic and setting others up. That's not a diminishing skill, he'll still find footy and be that difference maker in bursts in the engine room until 35+. In the 6-6-6 world, ball winning and sending it your way carries a lot more premium and Neale showed the difference when he came on as sub in the Grand Final too.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

He'll be 33, he's not going to charge 800k+. This is why I'm a bit pissed on the timing of all this, Neale in the next 2 years is entering the best value for money phase while still playing high quality footy and Lions are going to miss out cashing that in.

He relies on one-touch footy, bursting from traffic and setting others up. That's not a diminishing skill, he'll still find footy and be that difference maker in bursts in the engine room until 35+. In the 6-6-6 world, ball winning and sending it your way carries a lot more premium and Neale showed the difference when he came on as sub in the Grand Final too.

Why do people think the older you get, you will then play on this magical discount for? Neale will still want 800k+ because thats what he is worth. I think you are in for a rude shock if you think Neales just gonna give up 1 mill in salary to be a nice guy .

I think his longevity of 2+ years is a insane risk to take. I wouldnt be banking on that if im Freo. If im Eagles id say that length of time isnt long enough. We need 5+ years like Liam Baker represented at the time we got him

 

[mpal6]

Why do people think the older you get, you will then play on this magical discount for? Neale will still want 800k+ because thats what he is worth. I think you are in for a rude shock if you think Neales just gonna give up 1 mill in salary to be a nice guy .

I think his longevity of 2+ years is a insane risk to take. I wouldnt be banking on that if im Freo. If im Eagles id say that length of time isnt long enough. We need 5+ years like Liam Baker represented at the time we got him

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.

 

[eaglevision]

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.

Imagine paying 800k for a player at 33 and have them not even playing for your team…

Hello Melbourne.