AFL 2025: Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale on the shift that could reignite the Lions

News.com.au

20-05-2025

Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale says the Lions must 'release the shackles' to amend their shaky fortnight.
The Lions – who are still outright second – have had a surprising drop of form over the past two weeks, drawing with North Melbourne last round before losing to Melbourne on Sunday.
They travel to the MCG for the second time since their grand final triumph over Sydney to take on fellow top-four side the Hawks this Saturday.
Neale said the Lions had endured far worse slumps and come out the other side, but he still wanted his team to loosen up on Saturday.
'It feels like the last couple of week's maybe we've been a little bit frustrated and not playing our best footy,' Neale said.
'Maybe it's in our heads a little bit, so we've got to release the shackles a bit – we've been through far worse periods than this, so we're not panicking.
'It's a really long year, it's 24 weeks if you include the bye, and I think we learned some pretty good lessons last year that if you can find form at the right time, things can change quickly and your fortunes can change.
'Even Gold Coast we played pretty well against them, they would've been disappointed with the way they played … then you look at their next two weeks.
'We feel like if we can connect a bit better and our hunt and pressure around the ball improves then we can bounce back really quickly.'
Neale's captaincy counterpart Harris Andrews was tagged again at the weekend, with Melbourne forward Jake Melksham keeping the star defender from his best.
The dual Brownlow Medal winner says he will urge Andrews to get back to doing what he does best: reading and intercepting the footy.
'I think Harris at his best is not worrying too much about what the opposition are trying to do with him, he just plays his natural game,' Neale said.
'He's such an aerial threat, so good for us defensively. He reads the game so well and maybe when he's playing a little bit below his best he might be too consumed by what's going on around him.
'If he's reading the game at his best, it doesn't matter who's playing around him – he's had it before and dominated.
'I just urge him to read the game like he does and back himself in. I am sure he will get to work, he's the ultimate pro and doesn't need me giving him advice.'