Brisbane have thrown a September curveball, declaring Lachie Neale could feature in the Grand Final if the Lions overcome Collingwood on Saturday night.
The dual Brownlow medallist was initially ruled out for up to six weeks with a calf injury, seemingly ending his season.
It is game on for Lachie Neale IF Brisbane beats the Pies. A very good chance to return for a Grand Final. Lions footy boss Danny Daly tells @FOXFOOTY: "He is ticking all the boxes plus more, to be honest. We have to win but if we do he’s a big chance. So far, so good for him.”
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 20, 2025
But football boss Danny Daly told Fox Footy that the midfielder’s rehabilitation has opened the door for a remarkable comeback.
Daly: ‘So far, so good for him’
“It is game on for Lachie Neale IF Brisbane beats the Pies. A very good chance to return for a Grand Final,” Daly said. “He is ticking all the boxes plus more, to be honest. We have to win, but if we do, he’s a big chance. So far, so good for him.”
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Coach Chris Fagan had already hinted on Friday that Neale was “probably a little bit further ahead of where we thought he’d be”, but stopped short of confirming availability. He emphasised that selection would depend on both Neale’s fitness and the form of teammates in his position.
Brisbane have named an unchanged side for the preliminary final after their QClash rout of Gold Coast, while Collingwood regain experienced defender Jeremy Howe.
Should the Lions prevail, the question of whether to unleash Neale in a third consecutive Grand Final looms as one of the stories of the season.