Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale has given his biggest hint yet on where his AFL future lies beyond this season.
Plus, the “changing of the guard” for a fallen contender as a restricted free agent moves closer to the exit door. More below in AFL Daily!
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NEALE’S LATEST HUGE HINT ON AFL FUTURE
Two-time Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale has reportedly given the biggest hint yet on his playing future beyond 2026 at Brisbane.
Seven’s Tom Morris reported on Sunday afternoon that the 33-year-old, who is an unrestricted free agent, toured Collingwood’s training facility last week as he heavily ponders a move to Victoria this October.
Neale made the trip to Melbourne last Thursday evening ahead of Brisbane’s eventual 76-point loss to Carlton on Saturday night.
Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph reported for the Herald Sun back in June that Collingwood could offer a deal as large as $3 million across three seasons, as they look to further bolster their midfield around superstar Nick Daicos.
The Magpies are seen as considerable favourites for dual premiership Lions at season’s end, with West Coast and Adelaide linked in the earlier stages of the season before the Victorian powerhouse’s intentions were made public.
Neale transparently spoke with Fox Footy last month after Brisbane’s Round 17 win over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, saying he “honestly doesn’t know” where he’ll end up playing in 2027.
“I’ve just got to weigh everything… success, finance, everything that goes along with playing footy. I’m 33 – probably don’t have that long left, so yeah, just weighing it all up,” Neale said.
“It’s 100% the truth – I’m not sure what I’ll decide.
“It’s nice to be 33 and feel a little bit wanted … (that) probably doesn’t happen that often.”
Fagan: Lions “off the boil tonight” | 06:51
‘CHANGING OF THE GUARD’: TELLING TRADE TALE IN SUNS’ LATEST LOSS
Amid Gold Coast’s remarkable 10th-straight loss on Sunday afternoon to Melbourne, a telling sign emerged regarding one of the league’s star restricted free agents.
As analysed by Fox Footy’s First Crack team in their Round 21 wash-up, Ben King looked to have been dealt a notable positional change at People First Stadium, as he nears an expected exit from the Suns come season’s end.
Having not signed the club’s current two-year offer to extend his time in red, the 26-year-old has been linked strongly with Hawthorn in a move that would bring him back to his home state of Victoria.
It looks to have sparked a change in thinking for head coach Damien Hardwick, who deployed emerging tall Jed Walter in King’s traditional full-forward role against the Demons.
“It looked like a changing of the guard in regards to the position,” 287-game Saint Leigh Montagna said on Sunday night.
“In this game, he was getting into positions that he’s not used to, Ben King. It was Jed Walter who was playing the deepest as the focal point — and it looked really good.
“I just wonder whether if this was intentional from Damien Hardwick, to say: ‘Right, well Ben, if you’re here next year we’re starting to plan for next season — and it’s going to be around this guy as our number one key forward that we’ve committed to.”
The slight changing of the magnets was rewarded instantly, with Walter kicked three goals in a dominant first-half display.
And while there was so much to like, Montagna highlighted there’s still work to come for recently re-signed 21-year-old — as there is for mostkey forwards at his age.
“He was really impressive. Some of his forward craft is slowly getting better, and we know about the athleticism,” he said.
“His first half, he had 3.2, 11 disposals and seven marks … but with just one disposal in the second half, he looked gassed to me.
“That’s going to be a big summer for Walter, to get the running shoes on, hit the pavement and get himself really fit to be able to do similar to what Josh Treacy’s elevation has been at Fremantle … they’re going to need it.”