Chris Fagan has revealed that Lachie Neale is recovering quicker than first feared, opening the door for the Brisbane star to feature in a potential Grand Final should the Lions beat Collingwood on Saturday night.
The midfielder’s season looked finished when he suffered a calf injury during Brisbane’s qualifying final defeat to Geelong a fortnight ago, with early scans ruling him out for up to six weeks.
Instead, his intense rehabilitation has him pushing for a comeback just in time for a third consecutive decider.
MORE: Tassie Devils return serve on damning stadium report
‘He’s making good progress’
Fagan admitted Neale’s progress had exceeded expectations but refused to get carried away ahead of the preliminary final. “He’s just doing the best that he can to make himself available for the Grand Final if we happen to get there,” the coach said on Friday.
“He’s making good progress, whether he’s good enough to play or not next week, if we get there, only time will tell. But he’s probably a little bit further ahead of where we thought he’d be.”
Asked how difficult it would be to recall the dual Brownlow medallist if Brisbane advance, Fagan was pragmatic: “It depends how all the other blokes are going in his position. It’s good to have a dual Brownlow medallist available for a Grand Final, if we get there. I realise that might be a decision that we have to make.”
The Lions head into their blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG with an unchanged line-up after last week’s QClash demolition of Gold Coast, while the Magpies regain defender Jeremy Howe.
Neale’s recovery, combined with Brisbane’s growing confidence, adds yet another layer of intrigue to a September rivalry that has already delivered some unforgettable moments.