Neale set to extend deal with Brisbane

BRISBANE Lions star ballwinner Lachie Neale is poised to sign a contract extension, thwarting any chance of a trade back to Fremantle.

Neale is in the final stages of a deal to stay at the Lions beyond next season. He was already locked in until the end of 2023, but has all but recommitted to ensure he plays out his career at Brisbane.

It is a major coup for Brisbane as Neale briefly considered returning to Fremantle last year on the back of the pandemic for family reasons.

List manager Dom Ambrogio has struck the agreement with TLA boss Tom Petroro.

Neale, 29, is currently the favourite to win his second Brownlow

Medal after an impressive first half of the season, averaging 32 possessions a game.

He remains one of the league’s most consistent and damaging onballers but will need the support of his midfield teammates to steer the Lions all the way this year.

His signature is a significant boost for the Lions, who have done extremely well to retain their top talent under Ambrogio while adding Joe Daniher to the forward stocks on top of Charlie Cameron and Lincoln McCarthy.

Brisbane never thought Neale was a genuine chance to leave last year after signing him on a blockbuster trade from the Dockers in 2018.

Lions forward Dan McStay meanwhile is weighing up a return to Melbourne to play for Collingwood next year.

Fremantle has gone all-in on a move for Melbourne gun ruckman Luke Jackson, offering the premiership tall a bumper contract to return home to Western Australia.

Jackson is weighing up a return to the west to lead the Dockers to their first flag.