Lions star hints at staying beyond 2026, despite family pull to WA
Lachie Neale says he is no closer to determining where his future lies beyond 2026 but hinted his preference is to stay at the Brisbane Lions.
In his first press conference since stepping down as co-captain of the club following the breakdown of his highly publicized marriage, Neale announced that his daughter Piper will attend her 300th AFL match when they face the Melbourne Demons at the MCG on Sunday.
“We’re going to see Piper, so I’m looking forward to seeing her. I didn’t realize, I think there’s only roughly 115 people doing this.” [played 300 games]so I’m going to spend this week with my family,” Neale said.
The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a move back to Western Australia, with former partner Jules returning to Perth with the couple’s children, but said he would try to find a way to stay with the team he won the last two premierships with.
When asked what will be the dominant factor in his decision, Neale said: “Everything: family, football, my own happiness; a lot of things will come into it.”
“I’m no closer to making a decision yet, but what I do know is that I love this football club. I’ll probably do everything I can to stay, but if not, that’s the way it is,” Neale said.
“We’ll weigh all of that over the next three or four months. I’ve set myself up in the offseason and preseason to have a strong year and my body feels great, so hopefully I’ve got a few years left.”
Neale addressed the media uproar alongside co-captain Josh Dunkley, who will play his 200th AFL match in the same encounter, and revealed that the opportunity to play alongside Neale was a compelling factor in his decision to move from the Western Bulldogs to Queensland in 2023.
“I remember my first day at Springfield, he brought me here, so to do this together…to be a part of that history, to know the player he was and the player he will be is pretty special,” Dunkley said of Neale.
“From a distance you see how professional he is, and you don’t realize how much he works on his game until you see it from the front. It was a great honor to be able to understand that he was here and that I could join him.”
“He taught me a lot personally – I hope I was able to share some things with him too – but it was nice to be able to build that relationship and we are close friends now.”
Neale said the idea that this could be his final season at the Lions did not serve as additional motivation to display his best form, having yet to manage a goal in 2026 but still averaging 29 disposals and almost five inside 50s per game.
“No, not at all. I want to win the premiership every year; it doesn’t matter if it’s next year or if this is my last year,” Neale said.
“And I hope not; I hope to be a vaulter in Brisbane by the time I’m 36.”
Neale’s future could impact how the Lions juggle retaining fellow star Zac Bailey, who has attracted significant interest from rivals while also announcing that Bruce Reville has re-signed until the end of 2029 and Zane Zakostelsky will sign for another two seasons.
The floodgates have opened as financial offers are on the table for the game’s best, led by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s $2 million deal at St Kilda. But Neale and Dunkley felt Brisbane were well placed to keep their all-conquering team together and add new blood when necessary.
“I want to win a title every year, so if the club can bring in the talent that will win us the title and not destabilize the table where you’re losing too many players, then I’ll be happy with whatever money I bring them in,” Neale said.
“There’s this thing where it’s like, ‘You can get paid more somewhere else,’ but keeping the group together, I think that’s a really unique thing in our culture,” Dunkley added.
“There is something about having the close group and selfless attitude in our group that has the potential to take a pay cut just for the success of the football club.”
For Brisbane to celebrate their milestone with a win on Sunday – their fourth successive victory – they will need to do so without a veteran like Dayne Zorko, who is expected to be out for three weeks with a calf injury.
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