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All good, although I did start the thread after zoblitz posted the tweet on the trade compendium thread...Sorry Dylan12 - didn't want the thread started until confirmation, and it literally came through the next minute.
All good, although I did start the thread after zoblitz posted the tweet on the trade compendium thread...
Neale is the only player in the AFL under the age of 30 who has had 3000 possessions in the last five years, including a minimum 500 possessions each year, plus 50 Brownlow Medal votes, 50 games of 30 possessions or more, and five games of 40 possessions or more.
Also, he is one of 21 players in this group of 33 who has kicked 50 goals in the last five years, one of 12 with 60 Brownlow votes and one of 10 with two club best & fairest awards. And, significantly, he is one of 11 who is under 25.
Statistically, Neale has been extraordinary. He’s also averaged 4.02 tackles and 6.25 clearances a game over the past five years. It’s even more special considering he was claimed by Fremantle with selection number 58 in the 2011 Draft. The Neale story is another one of country boy makes good.
Born in Naracoorte, a small town 335km south-east of Adelaide, he spent his early years across the border in the western Victorian town of Apsley. At an early age, he moved back across the border with his family to a farm near Kybybolite. He played basketball, soccer, cricket and football, and was a Kybybolite teammate of Jack Trengove, later Melbourne captain and now at Port Adelaide, and Alex Forster, who was drafted with Pick No. 29 by Fremantle in the same draft as Neale but played only one game.
He attended St Peter’s College in Adelaide and joined SANFL club Glenelg, playing seven senior games before dropping back to the U18s for the finals, where he was best afield in a losing grand final side with 40 possessions. He represented South Australia at the national U18 championships.
In seven years at Fremantle he won their best and fairest in 2016 and 2018, was runner-up in 2017, and sixth in 2015, and is a three-time winner in 2014,15 and 18 of what is now the Glendinning-Allan Medal as best afield in the WA derby against West Coast.
A member of the Fremantle leadership group for the past two years, he was an All Australian squad member in 2015, 16 and 18.
The Brisbane Lions’ midfield has received a major boost with the acquisition of Lachie Neale on the final day of the AFL Trade Period. The Lions will receive Neale and Pick No. 30 from Fremantle in exchange for Pick No. 6, 19 and 55.
Neale joins the Lions on a five-year deal.
He is regarded as one of the league’s most elite midfielders and comes to the Lions after 135 games, seven seasons and two Doig Medals at the Dockers. In 2018 the 25-year-old played all 22 games for Fremantle and averaged an incredible 30.3 disposals a game, with 15 of those contested.
The speedy ball magnet was third in the AFL this year for total clearances and has been named in the All Australian squad in 2015, 2016, 2018. Since 2016, he has ranked number one in the AFL for contested possessions and clearances during the home and away season.
General Manager of Football David Noble said it was a major coup for the Lions to add such a respected player to their list. “Lachie is a perfect fit for what we are targeting this trade period – an elite midfielder and in the 23-26-year-old age bracket,” Noble said. “Lachie is a quality person and highly respected player who will significantly strengthen our midfield. “We are excited that Lachie and his partner Jules would choose our Club and believe this is a reflection of our continual improvement and growth in the competition. “We expect Lachie to be a positive influence on our culture as we collectively move forward and strive for success.
DUAL Doig medallist Lachie Neale insists he has no personal issues with Fremantle or the players despite leaving to join the Brisbane Lions. Neale asked to be traded to Brisbane after being offered a five-year deal to play in Queensland.
Speculation had been rife that Neale had a falling out with coach Ross Lyon and that he had grown frustrated with the lack of professionalism from a group of his teammates. But Neale said his relationships remained strong. “Fremantle is a really professional environment,” Neale said. “The players this year – those younger guys took a step forward and really developed. That will continue and I wish them nothing but success, except when they play the Lions. “I’ve never been frustrated with the club. I have great relationships with all those guys (who have had off-field problems). I caught up with Harley (Bennell) not long ago.
“None of that is true. Every club has their ups and downs. I don’t think there’s an issue at Freo. I don’t know where all that came from.”
Neale denied he met with Brisbane during the season but said he became aware of the club’s interest late in the year. Neale said he had texted his former teammates and would work through calling key people in the coming days. “There is no reason why I don’t want to be at Freo, despite what some people have said,” Neale said.
“It was just a really good opportunity for me to head up to Brisbane and be part of a really special group. I met with the key people at the club and they’re really impressive. “At Fremantle, there are a lot of great people there, so it’s really hard to say goodbye. But that’s the decision we’ve made.”
Lachie Neale denies he had a rift with Ross Lyon, revealing the Fremantle coach rang him to confirm his AFL trade would go ahead. The midfielder says the move is purely about opportunities at Brisbane and added he had no problems at Fremantle.
The two-time Dockers best and fairest joined the Lions on a five-year deal, with the move confirmed on Wednesday's final day of the trade period. There has been plenty of speculation about why Neale decided to move. "That was probably another thing that was put out there, that I don't have a good relationship with him (Lyon)," Neale said. "But I have a great relationship with Ross - I will miss him and I'm catching up with him in the next couple of days."
Neale also denied he was unimpressed with teammates' training standards or their off-field behaviour. "Fremantle is a really professional environment and the players this year ... those younger guys took a step forward," he said. "That will continue for them and I wish them nothing but success, except when they play the Lions."
Neale added he had caught up with troubled Docker Harley Bennell. "I've never been frustrated with the club and I have great relationships with all those guys (including Bennell)," he said. "None of that is true. Every club has its ups and downs and I don't think there's an issue at Freo."
Neale said he was made aware only late in the season that his management and Brisbane were talking. He said it took about five or six weeks to decide he would try to join the Lions with a year left on his current Fremantle contract. Neale said if the deal had not happened, he would have played for Fremantle next season.
He acknowledged that money was a factor in joining the Lions, but added there were other reasons. "It was probably the toughest decision I've had in my life,' he said. "There's no reason I don't want to be at Freo, despite what some people have said. It was just a really good opportunity for me to head up to Brisbane and be a part of a really special group."