Not so fast, Lachie
Lions urged to dig in heels over superstar
LACHIE Neale could still consider spending another season at the Brisbane Lions, as the effects of Covid-19 emerged as the biggest contributing factor behind his desire to move back to Perth.
Neale and his pregnant wife Jules have been contemplating their future in Brisbane for most of the season, despite Lions officials being blindsided by Sunday’s bombshell news linking him to Fremantle.
It is understood the pair are concerned current Covid-19 restrictions across the country mean Jules will remain without family support — outside friends and club staff — as she prepares for the impending birth of their first daughter.
During the trying and unpredictable home-and-away season, the Brownlow medallist was away from Jules for weeks at a time.
Neale was accused of being a “manipulator” on Tuesday, after attempting to extricate himself from a frontended deal that has seen him paid as much as $900,000 a season in the early years of his five-year contract.
But the two-time Lions best-and-fairest winner met with coach Chris Fagan, chief executive Greg Swann and football boss Danny Daly on Monday, and even suggested he might honour his contract. If the Lions held him to his deal for next season there is every
chance the
Covid-19 situation in Australia would dramatically improve to allow their families regular interstate trips.
Geelong held back homesick midfielder Tim Kelly from a return to Western Australia for an extra season in 2019, aware his contract value would only skyrocket. But with Neale turning 29 in May, there is the prospect of his value diminishing by the end of next year.
If Neale officially asks for a trade in coming days, the Lions will not hold him back but will push Fremantle for an exceptional trade package, given he is in contract.
Former Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon told Fox Footy the Lions should hold their nerve and refuse to trade him.
“The Lions aren’t going to give away an A-grade player to Fremantle? Are you kidding? That’s just not going to happen,” Dixon said.
“If I was in the chair, unless
I got what I wanted, he’s staying exactly where he is.
“You don’t want to play ball, Fremantle?
“No problem, West Coast might want to and give up a first-rounder or two for him.”
Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown said the Lions would not stand in Neale’s way.
“But it’ll (need to) be a win for the Lions. They will request heavy compensation, and if they don’t get that compensation Lachie will have to get his head around staying with Jules,” Brown told Fox Footy.