Premiership medal eludes dual Brownlow medallist Neale

Lachie Neale is a Brownlow phenomenon. In his five years as a Lion he’s a two-time winner of the game’s highest individual honour with two other podium finishes.

In fact, if not for the successful tribunal appeal of Patrick Cripps last year, Neale would have just joined Hayden Bunton Sr, Dick Reynolds, Bob Skilton and Ian Stewart as triple Brownlow medalists. He’d have won three of the last four counts.

In that period of excellence, he’s never really been spoken of as one of the best five players in the competition and this year Neale didn’t make the All-Australian team.

No doubt, Neale would give both Brownlows back to reverse the result of the weekend’s 2023 AFL Grand Final where the Lions fell agonisingly short of premiership glory in one of the best grand finals in living memory.

Neale had 21 disposals, with nine kicks, 12 handballs and five marks.