Brisbane Lions blindsided by Lachie Neale trade bombshell
The AFL has been rocked by reports that Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale is considering a trade request, which has seemingly blindsided the Brisbane Lions.
The 28-year-old South Australian reportedly desires a move to the Fremantle Dockers in Western Australia to raise his family, however Neale is currently contracted with the Lions until the end of 2023.
Neale was drafted by Fremantle Dockers in 2011 before he asked for a trade to the Lions in 2018, and in Brisbane under coach Chris Fagan he has had career-best form, earning a Brownlow Medal in 2020, and All-Australian honours.
Lachie Neale of the Lions poses with his wife Julie Neale after winning the Brownlow Medal Getty
Brisbane General Manager of Football Danny Daly said the club will release a statement on the matter on Monday afternoon.
"I can't make any comments because I haven't spoken to Lachie. I think the club will come out and make a statement sometime this afternoon once we've had a chance to speak to Lachie and work through it," Daly told Radio TAB.
"It's all news to us. As far as we're concerned, he's got two years of his contract left and that's where it is at."
Brisbane's 2021 AFL campaign came to a nail-biting end on the weekend after a one-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba.
