Where Collingwood ranks among contenders to lure Lachie Neale out of Brisbane ahead of huge free agency call

Brisbane star Lachie Neale looms as a fascinating free agent at the end of the season.

The 32-year-old appears likely to shift clubs after a turbulent off-season that saw him split from his wife Jules, who moved back to Perth with their children.

While it therefore makes a move back to Western Australia for Neale most likely, he reportedly has not ruled out going elsewhere.

READ MORE: Blues medal winner disgruntled over 'shock' mystery axing

READ MORE: Lloyd calls for Dons to weaponize ruthless whiteboard claims

READ MORE: Legal threat tipped to 'water down' AFL's Hollands findings

As an unrestricted free agent, the two-time Brownlow Medallist can sign wherever he wants at no cost to his destination side.

And speculation has been rife about where he could finish his career, with Collingwood now linked, and both Adelaide teams also in the mix. Neale was born in regional South Australia.

With all that in mind, we have gone through every team in contention for Neale, and a couple of others that make sense, and rated them out of 10 as a potential destination for the superstar midfielder.

Collingwood

The Magpies have reportedly shown interest in acquiring Neale in the off-season, according to the Herald Sun, given he is a free agent and wouldn't cost them any draft picks.

Collingwood has been in search of a star midfielder to pair with Nick Daicos for a few years now and Neale has shown in 2026 that he still has top-level footy left in him.

On paper, the move makes perfect sense for the Pies given their needs, but in reality he will be 33 next season.

Collingwood already has, by far, the oldest list in the AFL. They need to start prioritising youth and exposing younger players to the top level to avoid falling off a cliff when these veterans retire, as West Coast did in the 2020s.

Adding Neale does the opposite and attempts to extend a premiership window that may already be shut.

Though, if Scott Pendlebury, 38, retires, and Neale replaces him on their list, that is, technically, reducing the average age of their best side.

Verdict: 6/10. A list need, but maybe not the direction for Collingwood in 2027.

West Coast

If Neale opts to head back to Western Australia to be closer to his family, West Coast makes perfect sense for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the Eagles are crying out for a player of his stature in the game to come in and lead this young team off the bottom of the ladder, instil standards and guide No.1 draftees Harley Reid and Willem Duursma.

Neale would do for West Coast what Luke Hodge did for him and Brisbane when he arrived at the Lions and helped shape them into the powerhouse they have become.

Secondly, the Eagles are desperate for a star midfielder to sit alongside Reid and take some of the pressure off him.

Come 2027, West Coast will certainly be hoping to make inroads up the ladder, even if they're not yet a finals team.

Neale would likely have to accept that he likely won't contend again in the final year(s) of his career, but coming off what could be a Brisbane three-peat, creating a cultural legacy at the Eagles might be just as tempting.

West Coast has already stated they would be keen to chat with the 32-year-old if he is interested.

Verdict: 8/10. If Neale is happy to head to a struggling club, it would be a huge win.

Fremantle

The best story of the lot would be Neale returning to Fremantle and leading the team he started his career with to its inaugural premiership.

The Dockers are well and truly in contention and could well win the flag this year before he even steps through the door.

For Fremantle, the issue is more how to fit him in. They have a stacked midfield unit already with Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, Hayden Young, Shai Bolton and rising young star Murphy Reid, plus ruckman Luke Jackson who attends centre bounces as a midfielder himself.

Throwing Neale, a pure on-baller, into the mix would muddy the waters at Freo. They're already going to find it difficult to balance all of their guns in there now that Young is back from injury.

Neale has attended the most centre bounces for Brisbane every season through the 2020s. It's hard to imagine him in a periphery role elsewhere and it might require the Dockers to move out someone like Brayshaw to accommodate him.

Like West Coast, Fremantle has also been on record saying they would chat to him if the opportunity arose to bring home the man who has already won their best and fairest award twice.

Verdict: 6/10. Would be a great story, but not a great list fit.

Adelaide

If Neale opts to head back to his home state of South Australia, Adelaide is a pretty perfect fit.

The Crows have felt a star midfielder short the last few seasons, something they clearly agreed with given their pursuit of Christian Petracca in last year's trade period.

They would immediately throw Neale in the guts alongside the likes of Jordan Dawson and Sam Berry, and allow them to rotate Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele as wildcards alongside a strong starting trio.

It would allow them to use James Peatling and Jake Soligo in other roles, bolstering their midfield depth overall.

Adelaide won the minor premiership in 2025, but looks like a team fighting for a top eight spot in 2026. Adding a veteran star to their midfield mix might just be the missing piece of their puzzle.

Verdict: 9/10. If Neale is heading to South Australia, Adelaide works on a lot of levels

Port Adelaide

Out Zak Butters, in Lachie Neale? From that perspective, it would make some sense for the Power to replace one star midfielder leader with another, should Butters depart in the trade period or free agency.

They also wouldn't have to burn any of the picks from that trade to acquire the unrestricted free agent.

Neale would be a great role model for Jason Horne-Francis to help elevate him into a consistent star midfielder and take leadership burden off Connor Rozee.

Port Adelaide is a team building a new identity under coach Josh Carr and isn't in the premiership mix in the short term, particularly if Butters departs. But they're also not quite in desperate need of a veteran tone setter like, say, West Coast.

Adelaide makes more sense from a list and a premiership window perspective, if Neale opts to head home.

Verdict: 5/10. Makes some sense on paper, but a harder sell than the Crows

Wildcard: Hawthorn

If Neale is open to heading to Victoria as has been suggested, Hawthorn would surely be keen for a chat.

They came desperately close to acquiring a very similar midfielder in Zach Merrett last trade period and still lack that star midfield leader this season, though Cam Mackenzie and Josh Ward have stepped up somewhat.

Merrett would have cost the Hawks multiple first round picks, and might still if they renew their dance in the upcoming trade period. Neale meanwhile would cost them nothing but salary cap.

Again, it all hinges on Neale's willingness to head to a Victorian side.

Wildcard: Geelong

Name a more Geelong move than bobbing up out of nowhere and luring a star midfielder in the final phase of their career.

They offer a lifestyle that these kinds of players love and clearly thrive in and know how to maximise their time left in the game.

The emergence of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes gives the Cats a midfield punch that they lacked while chasing other midfield stars, meaning they don't need Neale as much as Hawthorn or Collingwood, though he's a clear upgrade on James Worpel.

But coach Chris Scott would find a way to balance the group and Neale could step straight in to replace Patrick Dangerfield from a leadership standpoint for a couple of years.

Feels like the kind of thing Geelong would do to extend their never-ending premiership window.