Brisbane have made their first official statement since news broke yesterday of a bombshell trade request by reigning Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale.
Seven’s Ryan Daniels claimed that Neale would request a trade back to Fremantle after three years with Brisbane so his wife could be closer to family as the birth of their first child nears.
Lions brass were reportedly blindsided by the news and met last night, before meeting with Neale today and releasing the following statement.
“The Brisbane Lions have today met with midfielder Lachie Neale.
Lions CEO Greg Swann, GM of Football Danny Daly and Senior Coach Chris Fagan sat down with the Brownlow medallist following reports he was seeking to return to Western Australia.
Neale and his wife Jules are expecting their first child and he has confirmed the couple are weighing up where they would like to raise their family.
He did not request a trade but has asked for some time to have further discussions with his wife and family.
The Lions will not make any further comment at this stage and we request that Lachie and Jules’ privacy be respected.”
Despite the club’s claim that Neale did not request a trade, the acknowledgement that he is having discussions with wife and family as they weigh up where to raise their child is a fair indication that a move could be on the cards.
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Neale joined Brisbane at the end of 2018 with a year remaining on his contract, with the Lions handing the Dockers picks six, 19 and 55 in exchange for the midfielder and pick 30.
He signed a five year-deal with the club that expires at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Dominated the stats, didn't dominate the game . . . at all.
RT
Roar Rookie
Miles might have been in Richmond's best 22 this year if they had stuck with him. Fact is Richmond's told B Ellis to find a new home and this was vindicated in 2020 when they won another Premiership. You have to keep regenerating your list and Ellis was only just in the best 22 in 2019 so no regrets from anyone I expect. That only leave Markov, so hardly a raid (yet). I'd be disappointed to lose a couple of others you have touted before (Chol, CCJ), but they have not set the world on fire, so it may not be a huge loss.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The fact that Conca was in the Suns first ever draft makes him right for a short term deal. The Suns just had 4 of their oldest players retire, which could become 6 by trade time, worth 624 games and lowers the average list age by a year if they are replaced by 18yos. Conca wouldn't even need to be best 22, just able to train professionally and be next soldier up in case of form or injury. Suns List boss Craig Cameron was GM of Footy at Richmond when Reece went at pick 6 in the 2010 draft, so there's a connection there as well as his mate Ellis at the Suns.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Brandon Ellis and Oleg Markov would have been Richmond best 22 this year. Anthony Miles and Corey Ellis were the discards, but they certainly played a role in influencing culture shift in the young players. I don't think Craig Cameron is done raiding the Tiger either.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Homegrown talent should always come first but with Nort he was selected as a CHB so maybe your recruiting officer let him slide cause of that
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I actually think it is less and less likely to happen.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It's absolutely extraordinary how dumb the recruiters were. Picking up Brayshaw at 2 (followed by Serong two years later) and then picking up a generational WA key forward such as Naughton or Allen at 5 would have been a once in a decade draft haul that could have set up both our spine and our midfield for years to come. Instead we took a second (granted very good) Vic midfielder who was always going to be a huge flight risk.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
And they have been burned with Kelly.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We'll hold on to 6. Neale is probably likely to come on the basis of future picks. Too many good WA kids. The way Garlick spoke the other day, they'll turn Chez into a number of picks so we can get Benning through NGA and a couple of those others to add to our 2 (only) current picks.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yeah it's not an insurmountable issue surely, we aren't in their shoes obviously but in all likelihood hopefully borders will open up next year with a higher vaccination rate anyway. Even Emperor McGowan will have to open them sometime next year or he will start to lose the public support.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Absolutely you aren't, Ross (and former CEO Steve Rosich) forced a lot of good people out of the club and set us back 4 years in terms of the clubs development. You only have to look at what's going on off field with characters of immense quality such as Bob Murphy being employed to see that there is a major values and attitudes change being put in place by Longmuir and Garlick.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
West Coast can't afford him, they can't trade their first rounder, they financially don't have the capability and they also desperately need to attack the draft, it fits their list management strategy even less than it fits Freo's. It's Freo or Brisbane for Lachie.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Great appointment. Bob will do wonders.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yes but also a considerably older player whose best years have probably been played at Brisbane, that also needs to come into consideration in terms of value.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
This is why my gut feel is this deal won't happen. The clubs will be poles apart in terms of valuation.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yeah Scotty I don't quite share that optimism, I think we are 3-4 years away, which is why i'm a bit gun shy on Neale.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Oh absolutely, and it has bit us on the backside big time. Naughton or Allen would have been better choices.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Freo can quite obviously afford Neale financially, they were willing to drop 800k a season on Cerra and Neale will be less than that. It's the draft capital being spent that concerns me more.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
*Fagan you mean, Don't think Pagan would have ever stood for a bloke trying to get out of his contract two years early!
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yeah but there is a big difference in the value of a first round pick being in the top 5 or 6 picks, than one being pick 17/18. I think personally pick 6 (assuming we get it for Cerra) on it's own would be about right for an ageing yet very good midfielder, however others would argue he is worth far more which is understandable. 2 picks is a lot for a developing side to give away with nothing coming back in return.