Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale has revealed the conversation that took place before his benching late in Brisbane’s first win of the AFL season.
The Lions banished a week of drama in taking care of North Melbourne for a 16.16 (112) to 6.6 (42) victory at Norwood Oval, led by Joe Daniher’s busy night of five goals and four behinds.
Neale was as important as ever for Brisbane in the midfield and his 14-disposal opening term was a good sign after an ankle sprain last weekend.
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Yet despite racking up another 10 in the second quarter, concerns around the injury prompted the Lions to substitute Neale out of the game in the fourth quarter.
It was unclear at the time whether he had run into more trouble, with a conversation between Neale, senior coach Chris Fagan and others on the bench taking place prior to the final decision.
Neale, speaking after the game, said his ankle had pulled up well after a “slow week” on the track and simply needed to rest up for a big Thursday night clash with Melbourne next week.
But he suggested he had been hoping to stay on the field against the Kangaroos.
“I actually said ‘it’s up to you’,” Neale told Fox Sports, laughing at the idea that he wanted to stay on to secure three Brownlow votes.
“I missed a fair chunk of pre-season with surgery so my discussion was if I need the match fitness or not.
“I said ‘if you want to take me off that’s fine’ and they decided to take me off. I love playing so I was a little bit flat but the boys were great.”
Brisbane’s 0-3 start after losing last year’s grand final was compounded this week when they were forced to defend themselves against claims of internal ructions following an off-season trip to the United States.
Fagan had predicted the unwanted media attention would galvanise his team, and so it proved that the rebuilding Kangaroos were the unlucky victims.
While Daniher took top billing his fellow key forward Eric Hipwood also contributed three goals after a below-par start to the season.
Hipwood had the crowd of 9037 at The Parade roaring in an otherwise-regulation last term when he took a big mark and kicked his third major.
“Our players showed their togetherness today, their energy and their brotherhood, which has been a real big part of our trademark at the club since I’ve been there,” Fagan said.
“We were very determined today to show the footy world that we are a united group.
“Never in doubt, but sometimes you have to show it.
“People who want to talk about those things, they’ll maybe stop for a little while, anyway.”
To their credit, the young Kangaroos regrouped at half-time and booted the first two goals of the third term.
But they only reduced the margin by two points for the quarter.
North coach Alastair Clarkson noted his club is where the Lions were six or seven years ago, when Fagan went there.
He was pleased they did not drop their heads in the second half, but ultimately they were outclassed by a better team.
“We were hoping like hell that the scratchy Brisbane were going to turn up – they were terrific early,” Clarkson said.
“It probably showed the gap between a really, really experienced and accomplished midfield that’s played a lot of footy together, versus ours.”
– with AAP
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