Recommitted Lachie Neale [RFA 2026] - name was floated for a move in 2025, stayed

[PrancingPony]

Purely speculation, but an ITK on our board has said Neale is interested in returning to WA, Fremantle aren't interested, so if he were to come back it'd have to be West Coast. I wouldn't take him back personally unless it was cheap, but that's not realistic.

 

[Elixuh]

Every WCE poster: iF yOu DoNt TrAdE hIM fOr PiCk 60 We BiD oN AnNaBlE

 

[Barrybran]

Every WCE poster: iF yOu DoNt TrAdE hIM fOr PiCk 60 We BiD oN AnNaBlE

No, Neale has value. He's a dual Brownlow medalist under contract.

 

[Elixuh]

No, Neale has value. He's a dual Brownlow medalist under contract.

Give us your best offer. I have authority to deal.

 

[Barrybran]

Give us your best offer. I have authority to deal.

Pick 59

 

[eastfreo75]

Give us your best offer. I have authority to deal.

View attachment 1757232571278.webp

 

[Elixuh]

Pick 59

 

[PrancingPony]

Do have to wonder if the speculation is true why Neale would want to leave now with Brisbane loading up even more players, has the front end of his contract finished and he's getting less? I know he eventually was going to return to Perth like he wanted, but the timing feels odd.

 

[Freoforever86]

Give us your best offer. I have authority to deal.

Frederick. Not for Neale, just take him.

 

[Elixuh]

Frederick. Not for Neale, just take him.

Hmmm. We will consider it but Freo will have to give us something of value in return. Perhaps signing Justin Snoremuir to a long term deal.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Purely speculation, but an ITK on our board has said Neale is interested in returning to WA, Fremantle aren't interested, so if he were to come back it'd have to be West Coast. I wouldn't take him back personally unless it was cheap, but that's not realistic.

No reason for West Coast to trade for anyone his age-pointless.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

No reason for West Coast to trade for anyone his age-pointless.

We need a captain desperately. No team has needed Lachie Neale more then we do right now. I’d give him 1.2 mill a year and give Brisbane a future 2nd plus change to get both him and Starcevich .

 

[Barrybran]

No reason for West Coast to trade for anyone his age-pointless.

Ideally no but we need an older body in the middle. Perhaps not Lachie Neale old but our midfield was pretty much all kids with stints from Liam Baker, Jack Graham and Tim 'I'll turn up when I feel like it' Kelly. It meant Harley was our #1 mid in his second season of footy and we were dominated.

 

[Tugga27]

No reason for West Coast to trade for anyone his age-pointless.

Old age maybe catching up with Lachie.
Has just done a calf after coming back from a quad injury.

Would love him but unless Brisbane wants to let him go on the cheap, I can't see it happening.
Brisbane will be challenging with or without him next year any I'd imagine.

 

[CakeEater]

We will trade you JOM for him.

1 best 22 player for another

 

[Freoforever86]

We need a captain desperately. No team has needed Lachie Neale more then we do right now. I’d give him 1.2 mill a year and give Brisbane a future 2nd plus change to get both him and Starcevich .

Baker should be captain

 

[amazingjoshy]

Every WCE poster: iF yOu DoNt TrAdE hIM fOr PiCk 60 We BiD oN AnNaBlE

Literally 0 WC posters have said this but its a cool post all the same

 

[Elixuh]

Old age maybe catching up with Lachie.
Has just done a calf after coming back from a quad injury.

Would love him but unless Brisbane wants to let him go on the cheap, I can't see it happening.
Brisbane will be challenging with or without him next year any I'd imagine.

He came back from a 6 week injury in 5 weeks which explains being underdone and injuring the calf. He otherwise played 21 games this season which in context is excellent.

We had a short offseason.

He didn’t do a full preseason with recovery from the plantar injury and was in doubt for the start of the season.

We had an unrelenting draw this year. The most difficult on record. And he wasn’t managed at all.

 

[#Port Patriot#]

Purely speculation, but an ITK on our board has said Neale is interested in returning to WA, Fremantle aren't interested, so if he were to come back it'd have to be West Coast. I wouldn't take him back personally unless it was cheap, but that's not realistic.

Highly doubt that "ITK" .. is true. Because I doubt he'd go to WA. There's literally no links there family wise even his wife's and there's no reason to even go there. Pointless going to play for Eagles too even if on a large amount of money to help with experience.

If anything, Neale will retire at Lions and remain in QLD or return to SA and one of the two teams there, most likely Port and that's a big if.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

We need a captain desperately. No team has needed Lachie Neale more then we do right now. I’d give him 1.2 mill a year and give Brisbane a future 2nd plus change to get both him and Starcevich .

With all due to respect hes almost 34 and his body is showing classic slowdown signs. You are 5 years off contending at least bringing in a player of his age is absolutely pointless. If it was leadership for pick 100 sure but Brisbane will want a r1 and no way should wce be trading good picks for old guys.

 

[Spirit Level]

Highly doubt that "ITK" .. is true. Because I doubt he'd go to WA. There's literally no links there family wise even his wife's and there's no reason to even go there. Pointless going to play for Eagles too even if on a large amount of money to help with experience.

If anything, Neale will retire at Lions and remain in QLD or return to SA and one of the two teams there, most likely Port and that's a big if.

Are you dense? His wife is literally from WA and all of her support network is as well?

 

[#Port Patriot#]

Are you dense? His wife is literally from WA and all of her support network is as well?

Feel free to prove that she is from WA

 

[PrancingPony]

Highly doubt that "ITK" .. is true. Because I doubt he'd go to WA. There's literally no links there family wise even his wife's and there's no reason to even go there. Pointless going to play for Eagles too even if on a large amount of money to help with experience.

If anything, Neale will retire at Lions and remain in QLD or return to SA and one of the two teams there, most likely Port and that's a big if.

His wife is Western Australian and he has said in the past that he will return to Perth down the line.

I don't know where you got the idea he has no connections in WA.

 

[Moist Biscuit]

With all due to respect hes almost 34 and his body is showing classic slowdown signs. You are 5 years off contending at least bringing in a player of his age is absolutely pointless. If it was leadership for pick 100 sure but Brisbane will want a r1 and no way should wce be trading good picks for old guys.

Hes not even 33 yet lol

 

[Moist Biscuit]

I would hope Freo are interested if Erasmus does leave, still a very good player.