Brisbane Lions co-captain Lachie Neale has made an extraordinary recovery to be selected for the AFL grand final against a Geelong side featuring Rhys Stanley.<\/p>\n
Neale, whose season was feared over three weeks ago when suffering a calf injury, replaces Jarrod Berry, who will miss Saturday’s premiership decider after dislocating a shoulder last weekend.<\/p>\n
The Cats summoned Stanley to replace five-time All Australian defender Tom Stewart, who was concussed in last Friday night’s preliminary final against Hawthorn.<\/p>\n
Neale’s return is a near miracle after club doctors told him he was a five per cent chance of playing again this season.<\/p>\n
The injury was initially listed as having a season-ending four-to-six-week time frame.<\/p>\n
But the dual Brownlow medallist was picked for the MCG showdown after the Lions held a closed training session at Melbourne’s Princes Park on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Neale participated in the session but Berry was unsighted after dislocating his left shoulder in their preliminary-final win over Collingwood.<\/p>\n
Berry also suffered the same injury on August 15 against Fremantle, with the Lions unwilling to risk a recurrence in the grand final.<\/p>\n
Geelong ace Stewart was unavailable after entering the AFL’s mandatory 12-day concussion protocols.<\/p>\n
The brilliant backman was concussed in a tackle from Hawthorn’s Mabior Chol.<\/p>\n
The Hawk was initially given a three-match ban for rough conduct by match review officer Michael Christian, but successfully appealed against the suspension at the tribunal on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
Ruckman Stanley missed his club’s initial two finals because of a hamstring strain, though Cats officials maintain he was available for last week’s preliminary final.<\/p>\n
The Cats named Jed Bews, Mitchell Knevitt and Ollie Henry, and Brisbane listed Sam Day, Darragh Joyce and Jimmy Tunstill, as emergencies.<\/p>\n
Neale’s return will continue to be a major talking point, though the Lions’ triple-premiership winner Jonathan Brown is adamant the gamble on the prolific ball-winner is worth taking.<\/p>\n
“He has been pain free and he’s trained fully with the group for the last week,” Brown said on Thursday ahead of teams being released.<\/p>\n
“He’s the captain of your club. We know what he’s achieved as an individual.<\/p>\n
“I think it would be a let-down for the group if he was right to play and Fages and the coaching staff didn’t pick him.”<\/p>\n