Why star's injury could be good thing for looming Lions

The Advertiser

4 hours ago

Chris Fagan expects Lachie Neale to be his usual self in September when he returns from an injury the Brisbane Lions coach admits is hard to spot.
The midfielder has been sidelined by a quadriceps complaint for the Lions' final three home-and-away fixtures, beginning Saturday at the Gabba against Sydney.
But the AFL's ironman, who hasn't missed back-to-back games since 2021, will continue to train while the defending champions, sitting third, attempt to lock up a top-four finish in a crowded top-eight.
"If you saw him run yesterday you'd think, 'Why isn't he playing?'," Fagan said on Friday of 32-year-old Neale.
"The threat is, if he does something more to it, it could be a lot worse.
"He'll be able to train quite hard over the next few weeks ... it might even freshen him up."
Fagan said Neale felt the injury early in last weekend's win over Collingwood, before he dominated with 36 touches.
"I'm this confused coach (asking) 'why's he out? He's running alright and he played pretty good last week'," he said.
"But that's the story."
Neale has missed just eight games in his seven seasons at the Lions, seven of which came in 2021 as he dealt with ankle and back problems.
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner has been a centrepiece of the club's rise since his 2019 arrival and produced some of his best form in finals games.
But Fagan was quick to point out they were unbeaten when Neale didn't play in that 2021 campaign.
He said Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Levi Ashcroft will spend more time in the engine room in Neale's absence.
Defender Tom Doedee, a high-profile recruit from Adelaide in late 2023, has overcome two knee reconstructions and will play his first AFL game in more than two years.
"Ryan Lester got injured and it's a like-for-like replacement," Fagan said.
"It's been a long time between drinks.
"I won't say too much to him, just encourage him. I don't want to add to the noise."
Swans key forward Hayden McLean is back from concussion for last year's grand finalists, who are 6-2 in their last eight games but out of finals contention.
The Lions can jump Collingwood into second and even finish the round on top of the ladder if West Coast upset Adelaide on Sunday.
"Make one mistake and you're in strife, it's ridiculous," Fagan said of this year's jostle for spots.
"Last season 14.5 wins got us fifth, pretty easily. We've got 14.5 at the moment and it's not enough to make finals.
"It's not worth spending emotional energy on, it's about the here and now."
Chris Fagan expects Lachie Neale to be his usual self in September when he returns from an injury the Brisbane Lions coach admits is hard to spot.
The midfielder has been sidelined by a quadriceps complaint for the Lions' final three home-and-away fixtures, beginning Saturday at the Gabba against Sydney.
But the AFL's ironman, who hasn't missed back-to-back games since 2021, will continue to train while the defending champions, sitting third, attempt to lock up a top-four finish in a crowded top-eight.
"If you saw him run yesterday you'd think, 'Why isn't he playing?'," Fagan said on Friday of 32-year-old Neale.
"The threat is, if he does something more to it, it could be a lot worse.
"He'll be able to train quite hard over the next few weeks ... it might even freshen him up."
Fagan said Neale felt the injury early in last weekend's win over Collingwood, before he dominated with 36 touches.
"I'm this confused coach (asking) 'why's he out? He's running alright and he played pretty good last week'," he said.
"But that's the story."
Neale has missed just eight games in his seven seasons at the Lions, seven of which came in 2021 as he dealt with ankle and back problems.
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner has been a centrepiece of the club's rise since his 2019 arrival and produced some of his best form in finals games.
But Fagan was quick to point out they were unbeaten when Neale didn't play in that 2021 campaign.
He said Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Levi Ashcroft will spend more time in the engine room in Neale's absence.
Defender Tom Doedee, a high-profile recruit from Adelaide in late 2023, has overcome two knee reconstructions and will play his first AFL game in more than two years.
"Ryan Lester got injured and it's a like-for-like replacement," Fagan said.
"It's been a long time between drinks.
"I won't say too much to him, just encourage him. I don't want to add to the noise."
Swans key forward Hayden McLean is back from concussion for last year's grand finalists, who are 6-2 in their last eight games but out of finals contention.
The Lions can jump Collingwood into second and even finish the round on top of the ladder if West Coast upset Adelaide on Sunday.
"Make one mistake and you're in strife, it's ridiculous," Fagan said of this year's jostle for spots.
"Last season 14.5 wins got us fifth, pretty easily. We've got 14.5 at the moment and it's not enough to make finals.
"It's not worth spending emotional energy on, it's about the here and now."
Chris Fagan expects Lachie Neale to be his usual self in September when he returns from an injury the Brisbane Lions coach admits is hard to spot.
The midfielder has been sidelined by a quadriceps complaint for the Lions' final three home-and-away fixtures, beginning Saturday at the Gabba against Sydney.
But the AFL's ironman, who hasn't missed back-to-back games since 2021, will continue to train while the defending champions, sitting third, attempt to lock up a top-four finish in a crowded top-eight.
"If you saw him run yesterday you'd think, 'Why isn't he playing?'," Fagan said on Friday of 32-year-old Neale.
"The threat is, if he does something more to it, it could be a lot worse.
"He'll be able to train quite hard over the next few weeks ... it might even freshen him up."
Fagan said Neale felt the injury early in last weekend's win over Collingwood, before he dominated with 36 touches.
"I'm this confused coach (asking) 'why's he out? He's running alright and he played pretty good last week'," he said.
"But that's the story."
Neale has missed just eight games in his seven seasons at the Lions, seven of which came in 2021 as he dealt with ankle and back problems.
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner has been a centrepiece of the club's rise since his 2019 arrival and produced some of his best form in finals games.
But Fagan was quick to point out they were unbeaten when Neale didn't play in that 2021 campaign.
He said Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Levi Ashcroft will spend more time in the engine room in Neale's absence.
Defender Tom Doedee, a high-profile recruit from Adelaide in late 2023, has overcome two knee reconstructions and will play his first AFL game in more than two years.
"Ryan Lester got injured and it's a like-for-like replacement," Fagan said.
"It's been a long time between drinks.
"I won't say too much to him, just encourage him. I don't want to add to the noise."
Swans key forward Hayden McLean is back from concussion for last year's grand finalists, who are 6-2 in their last eight games but out of finals contention.
The Lions can jump Collingwood into second and even finish the round on top of the ladder if West Coast upset Adelaide on Sunday.
"Make one mistake and you're in strife, it's ridiculous," Fagan said of this year's jostle for spots.
"Last season 14.5 wins got us fifth, pretty easily. We've got 14.5 at the moment and it's not enough to make finals.
"It's not worth spending emotional energy on, it's about the here and now."