Rumour Neale-y premiership time! (was: Neale before the Lions!)

[Sproj]

They have made themselves look bad. No sympathy from me given they went behind the club's back by talking to an opposition coach. The club has staff that aim to help the welfare of their players and partner, and they didn't go to them once. Neale also could have spoken to Fagan anytime during the year and expressed his thoughts about moving back to Perth. I believe they are doing this simply because of money, and the fact that Neale didn't even bother once with west coast (who conveniently have a tight cap) only speaks further to that. Covid was also a much greater problem last year, yet Neale didn't once think about proposing a trade, which again is convenient because last year his contract was still front ended. Stop defending a player who has shown no respect to the club. He did this to Fremantle, and he's doing it to us. There's a clear pattern here and Neale should have been much better about this. He had every chance too, but chose not .

It does indeed seem suspect. Given the speed up of the vaccine roll out as well, it isn't impossible to think that borders will be open again possibly even early next year, seems strange to wait until now, after the bulk of the contract has been paid of course.

 

[Mighty Lions]

He's doing what he was doing a couple of years ago but substituted more marks than bringing it to ground by design and then finishing with a goal.
Complete player now , or pretty Dan close.
He's obviously underrated by these so called footy experts.
He plays in that last final we are a different team , better team.

Dan will be 27 years old in season 2022. It's really common for key position players to not reach their potential until 25 years old and onwards so for Dan to step up this season is no surprise to me.
That said, the heavy bagging he copped in 2020 was a little unfair and seeing him step up this year was great. To be honest, I did doubt whether he was up to it for a bit in season 2020 watching him fade in and out of games so regularly.
Going to be an exciting year ahead for our team with so many players going up to another level once again.

 

[mattsmob]

I know a lot of people think that but I actually think the best of Neale is ahead. He just prepares so meticulously and is so professional. To come back and do what he did in that Melbourne final after the significantly interrupted year he had right from the pre season shows that he is elite. And just so consistent.

I certainly think he could win another Brownlow and is a fantastic player but I think it would be better for the team if he wasn’t our number 1 player. Honestly I see this as a win win for us, either we get enough value in a trade for it to be beneficial for the club to move him on or we keep him and have a gun player. From all that’s come out I don’t think it’d be hard to convince them to stay if the offer isn’t worth it for us.

 

[martinson]

But do you think that level of mental application is sustainable? Especially after starting a family and as his body deteriorates.

Obviously those are issues for sure. He's the type to have a sustained career though isn't he . Very strong mentally and focused on the game . Plus one of those bodies that's hard to hurt , even though this year was an outlier.

If it's forced on us we can look at all the reasons to get something out of him now and one of those is his best is potentially behind him. I'm not in that camp ,but his currency has gone up since he's been with us and if we get a good deal it's not killing me.

 

[lioninthesand]

I know a lot of people think that but I actually think the best of Neale is ahead. He just prepares so meticulously and is so professional. To come back and do what he did in that Melbourne final after the significantly interrupted year he had right from the pre season shows that he is elite. And just so consistent.

He didn't this year IMO. Yes he had a calf injury but looked like he didn't hit the gym over the summer and looked underdone all year.

 

[ForzaRoma]

It does indeed seem suspect. Given the speed up of the vaccine roll out as well, it isn't impossible to think that borders will be open again possibly even early next year, seems strange to wait until now, after the bulk of the contract has been paid of course.

Surely Neale knows the borders are opening up by the end of the year? Surely they know getting to Perth from Queensland is easily given we don't have covid? I would have understood if he left last year, but come on. Let's not pretend this isn't about money. He did the same to Fremantle by leaving the moment his front ended contract ended. And now he's doing it to us. Anyway, I'm happy the media have called him out over his shitty actions regarding this, because it deserves to be. I hope he moves now, because I'm not sure if I would want him playing for us after this. What he did was worse than beams for me.

 

[martinson]

Surely Neale knows the borders are opening up by the end of the year? Surely they know getting to Perth from Queensland is easily given we don't have covid? I would have understood if he left last year, but come on. Let's not pretend this isn't about money. He did the same to Fremantle by leaving the moment his front ended contract ended. And now he's doing it to us. Anyway, I'm happy the media have called him out over his shitty actions regarding this, because it deserves to be. I hope he moves now, because I'm not sure if I would want him playing for us after this. What he did was worse than beams for me.

To be fair none of us really know what has actually occurred and the extent or the truth of the circumstances so it's premature to draw conclusions.

 

[Harris Specter]

They have made themselves look bad. No sympathy from me given they went behind the club's back by talking to an opposition coach. The club has staff that aim to help the welfare of their players and partner, and they didn't go to them once. Neale also could have spoken to Fagan anytime during the year and expressed his thoughts about moving back to Perth. I believe they are doing this simply because of money, and the fact that Neale didn't even bother once with west coast (who conveniently have a tight cap) only speaks further to that. Covid was also a much greater problem last year, yet Neale didn't once think about proposing a trade, which again is convenient because last year his contract was still front ended. Stop defending a player who has shown no respect to the club. He did this to Fremantle, and he's doing it to us. There's a clear pattern here and Neale should have been much better about this. He had every chance too, but chose not .

Surely Neale knows the borders are opening up by the end of the year? Surely they know getting to Perth from Queensland is easily given we don't have covid? I would have understood if he left last year, but come on. Let's not pretend this isn't about money. He did the same to Fremantle by leaving the moment his front ended contract ended. And now he's doing it to us. Anyway, I'm happy the media have called him out over his shitty actions regarding this, because it deserves to be. I hope he moves now, because I'm not sure if I would want him playing for us after this. What he did was worse than beams for me.

There's going early, and then there's this. Calm down there buddy.
You're basing everything off journalists who don't even know half the story.

 

[Mighty Lions]

Not sure you can blame the journo - the story is what it is. To his credit Ryan at least waited until after we were out of finals.

100% disagree. If he reported the facts/truth about what was said, there would have been no story......surprise surprise...gutter media at it's best once again. "to his credit" ...wow....a journalist with credibility!!!!...not in this country there is not.

 

[Cockliff38]

100% disagree. If he reported the facts/truth about what was said, there would have been no story......surprise surprise...gutter media at it's best once again. "to his credit" ...wow....a journalist with credibility!!!!...not in this country there is not.

The club has stated Lachie is weighing up what's best for his family. I'm not sure you can get a clearer concession that there is truth to the story

 

[dropbear101]

can i just say again. surely this deal doesn't get done. you want neale for the now. we want picks for the future. what is the incentive for the trade.

you guys have finished top 4 3 years in a row. premierships are incredibly hard to win. why would you trade away neale for anything less than a first or two.

the duff and quarters podcast made a good point. in 1997 you traded us adrian fletcher a 29yo. we traded away pick 5 which became luke power

Luke Power

Age

44

Ht

180cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.0

5star

K

13.4

5star

HB

9.6

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.9

5star

CL

1.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.6

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

2.0

4star

. we lost that trade. I could go on about freo's trading history. but why would we do the deal and no way we should be sitting there and thinking lets trade our first. we should be trading neale for a second.

neither side will agree. because both sides have different values for him because of there different list positions. both sides are right btw.

 

[Tom14]

???

 

[mpal6]

can i just say again. surely this deal doesn't get done. you want neale for the now. we want picks for the future. what is the incentive for the trade.

you guys have finished top 4 3 years in a row. premierships are incredibly hard to win. why would you trade away neale for anything less than a first or two.

the duff and quarters podcast made a good point. in 1997 you traded us adrian fletcher a 29yo. we traded away pick 5 which became luke power. we lost that trade. I could go on about freo's trading history. but why would we do the deal and no way we should be sitting there and thinking lets trade our first. we should be trading neale for a second.

neither side will agree. because both sides have different values for him because of there different list positions. both sides are right btw.

For the deal to happen, we need to help Carlton split pick 6 before you get it.

If you get 6 and are holding 8 already, this won't happen in my view. Bell would start low balling at that stage.

 

[Cockliff38]

 

[CarterS]

He's doing what he was doing a couple of years ago but substituted more marks than bringing it to ground by design and then finishing with a goal.
Complete player now , or pretty Dan close.
He's obviously underrated by these so called footy experts.
He plays in that last final we are a different team , better team.

Opened my eyes to how much he has improved when after the last final, Leppitsch and Richo both on TV saying how much the Lions missed him and how much of a class act he is, when improvement is incremental it can be hard to notice sometimes.

 

[Tom14]

???

This is bizarely candid:

Neale family frustrated after private conversation about potential move blown out of proportion

Lachie Neale's father says the Brownlow medallist is not trying to skip out on his contract with Brisbane, merely starting a conversation around his wife's wellbeing as they prepare for their first child.

www.abc.net.au

He said his son had only just started speaking to his management about a potential move back to Western Australia and the Fremantle Dockers, with wife Julie eight months pregnant with their first child.

The Lions said on Tuesday that no trade request had been made.

"He hasn't requested a trade. The disappointing thing was that it hit the media and it's gone into meltdown the last couple of days," Robbie Neale told ABC North & West SA.

"The reality is it's purely a discussion that was had internally.

"They just need a bit of support because it's been bordering on horrific.

"They've got paparazzi following them around and camped outside their house, and this is not how it should have been.

"This is a bit like there's a bushfire happening, but as far as we're concerned the match isn't even out of the box."

After the initial discussions about a potential move, Neale's management company sounded out Fremantle, where he played the first seven seasons of his AFL career.

"Unfortunately we think maybe that question was asked around Freo a little bit too much and someone's picked up on it," Robbie Neale said.

He spoke about the difficulties the couple had experienced living in the AFL bubble so far away from Lachie's family in South Australia and Julie's in WA.

Despite Brisbane's relative good fortune with outbreaks and lockdowns, Julie has had to live under stricter restrictions imposed by the AFL.

"It was really about just making sure she's OK," he said.

"She's been unable to get out and spend time with other people over the last couple of years, [especially] when Lachie's on the road for three weeks at a time, sometimes unexpectedly."

Neale signed a five-year contract with the Lions ahead of the 2019 season and his dad said the club has "been absolutely terrific and just gone into support mode" since the reports emerged.

 

[LIONS08]

This is bizarely candid:

Neale family frustrated after private conversation about potential move blown out of proportion

Lachie Neale's father says the Brownlow medallist is not trying to skip out on his contract with Brisbane, merely starting a conversation around his wife's wellbeing as they prepare for their first child.

www.abc.net.au

This really puts things into perspective. They are human beings. Not assets. Give them some bloody space. The way some have been acting around here is absolutely disgusting

 

[Lionwest]

Wonder if the leak from Freo and subsequent media storm created by it will work in our advantage and keep him here?

 

[mpal6]

Wonder if the leak from Freo and subsequent media storm created by it will work in our advantage and keep him here?

Might remind him what kind of circus he'll be in for, if he manages to get back to WA.

 

[Lionwest]

Might remind him what kind of circus he'll be in for, if he manages to get back to WA.

Surely he would be far from impressed with Freo allowing the discussions to become public.

 

[spotthedog1]

Dan will be 27 years old in season 2022. It's really common for key position players to not reach their potential until 25 years old and onwards so for Dan to step up this season is no surprise to me.
That said, the heavy bagging he copped in 2020 was a little unfair and seeing him step up this year was great. To be honest, I did doubt whether he was up to it for a bit in season 2020 watching him fade in and out of games so regularly.
Going to be an exciting year ahead for our team with so many players going up to another level once again.

Completely agree. And you only have to look at Fullarton this year to see history repeating - tear down the 22 year old key forward as not good enough, despite him obviously filling a gap, and knowing it'll be a couple of years before he really grows in to the role (same as almost all in his role).

 

[Mighty Lions]

Surely he would be far from impressed with Freo allowing the discussions to become public.

what discussions???

 

[Lionwest]

what discussions???

Perhaps poorly worded on my behalf.

"Unfortunately we think maybe that question was asked around Freo a little bit too much and someone's picked up on it," Robbie Neale said.

 

[Nuggo]

After raising kids with no help I can fully understand that reasoning for wanting to go back to be around family. But at the moment the reason is not the issue more that we weren't involved in the initial discussions. Whether that is Neale or his management fault I don't know. You just feel that if he stays it won't be the same and if he goes it definitely won't be the same. As for the match not being lit yet, I am not so sure of that now.

 

[Quigley]

Completely agree. And you only have to look at Fullarton this year to see history repeating - tear down the 22 year old key forward as not good enough, despite him obviously filling a gap, and knowing it'll be a couple of years before he really grows in to the role (same as almost all in his role).

McStay is no world beater. He is a solid best 22 player though. The difference between McStay and Fullarton I think is that McStay always looked like he had the tools to be a good forward he just never put it together. Fullarton has just not looked like he has any skill that will translate into him being effective at AFL level. Even at the level below he is not a major threat. He cannot get separation and is a poor mark. He is not a pack crashing option nor will he run an opponent into the ground. I am just not seeing what he has that will allow him to become an effective forward in the AFL.