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Lachie Neale

Lachlan Oliver Neale (born 24 May 1993) is an Australian rules footballer and the co-captain of the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Fremantle Football Club from 2012 to 2018 before being traded to the Brisbane Lions in 2019, where he won the Brownlow Medal in both 2020 and 2023.

Early life

Neale was born in Naracoorte, South Australia. His family briefly lived on a farm in Langkoop, near Apsley, a small town just east of the South Australian border in western Victoria. before settling in the South Australian town of Kybybolite when Lachie was still young.

Nicknamed "Cowboy" after Kevin Neale, he played various junior sports in Naracoorte including basketball, soccer, cricket and football. Lachie started playing football for Kybybolite in 2004 as a 10-year-old. He kicked 8 goals for the year as his team won the under-14 KNTFL premiership alongside future AFL player Jack Trengove. Neale also won another under-14 premiership the next season, once again alongside Trengove but also with future AFL teammate Alex Forster. Neale kicked 14 goals for the season but was not selected for the Grand Final. Neale continued playing for Kybybolite and then received a scholarship to attend St Peter's College, Adelaide. He won the Opie Medal in his final year at St Peter's.

He played his junior football for the Kybybolite Football Club and then the Glenelg Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), including seven games in the league side before returning to the under-18 team for the grand final. Despite Glenelg losing to Port Adelaide, he gathered 40 possessions and was awarded the Alan Stewart Medal as the best player in the game. He represented South Australia at the 2011 AFL Under 18 Championships.

Growing up, Neale supported the Port Adelaide Football Club.

AFL career

Fremantle (2012–2018)

Neale was drafted to Fremantle with their fourth selection (number 58 overall) in the 2011 AFL draft. Neale's close friend and former teammate from Kybybolite Junior Football Club, Alex Forster, was also drafted by Fremantle with their previous selection in the same draft. They joined former Melbourne co-captain and Port Adelaide player Jack Trengove as ex-Kybybolite players on AFL lists.

Neale played very well during the 2012 NAB Cup preseason games and was predicted to make his AFL debut in the opening round of the 2012 AFL season, but hurt his ankle against Port Adelaide at Victor Harbor, South Australia.

Neale credits coach Ross Lyon's direction in his first year, Lyon claiming did not have long term AFL potential unless he reduced his weight and improved his work rate.

After playing two games for Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Neale made his debut in round 4 of the 2012 AFL season against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium as the substitute. He was activated during the third quarter, replacing Nick Suban. After his debut, Neale played through until round 14. He played one further game in round 20. Across the season, he averaged 11.3 disposals, 1.6 marks and 2.1 tackles per game.

In the 2013 season he improved, averaging 19.8 disposals, 3.3 marks and 1.7 tackles per game. Neale was the substitute in the 2013 AFL Grand Final when Fremantle lost to Hawthorn by 15 points.

Neale's 2016 season was rewarded with the Doig Medal as the club best and fairest.

At the conclusion of the 2018 season, after winning a second Doig Medal, Neale requested a trade to Brisbane. He was traded on 17 October.

Neale did not cite any reasons for leaving Fremantle; however, Lyon claims that he was motivated by money and that Fremantle was not able to match a lucrative offer made by Brisbane.

Brisbane Lions (2019–)

Neale thrived at his new club in 2019, winning All-Australian team selection for the first time, winning his first Merrett–Murray Medal and finishing equal-third in the Brownlow Medal with 26 votes.

Neale had an excellent start to the 2020 season, with him being deemed the best player in the league by the ABC's Dean Bilton prior to round 6.

Neale won the 2020 Brownlow Medal after polling 31 votes during the shortened regular season, including being best-on-ground in ten matches. This result put Neale in front of 2nd-placed Travis Boak by 10 votes, the equal-highest win in Brownlow Medal history since the introduction of the 3-2-1 voting system.

Neale's 2020 season success was also compounded by All-Australian selection, a Merrett–Murray Medal and the Leigh Matthews Trophy, amongst various other awards.

Neale's 2022 season was yet another season of success, taking home a third All-Australian blazer and winning a third Merrett–Murray Medal, as well as placing second in the Brownlow Medal, missing out on first place by a singular vote.

On 1 March 2023, Neale was named co-captain of the Lions alongside Harris Andrews. Later in the year, Lachie Neale clinched his second Brownlow Medal after again polling 31 votes.