Dual premiership coach Chris Fagan says Brisbane “were ready” for Lachie Neale to be ruled out of Saturday’s AFL grand final but the dual Brownlow medallist’s presence will be “good for footy”.
The Lions won their appeal against his one-match ban on Thursday night, a decision the “cynical” Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir expected to come in Tuesday night’s tribunal hearing.
It is the second straight year Neale has only learned his fate in grand final week after overcoming a season-ending calf injury to play in the 2025 flag.
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“It was good. I didn’t think he would. It was a bit like last year, we didn’t know he was going to play till the day before — history repeating itself just in a different way,” Fagan said on Friday.
“It was a good thing, good for Lachie, good for footy, I reckon. But we were pretty much ready for him not to be playing, I must admit.
“We were preparing for him not to play last year too and we went OK in the grand final. Nothing different.”
Longmuir, sitting to Fagan’s right, said they always prepared for Neale to be playing.
“I’m a bit cynical with these things. Sometimes I feel like that’s the outcome that gets reached a little bit later than what I thought it would get reached,” he said.
“We prepared for Brisbane’s best and he’s clearly in their best. Even if he didn’t play we felt like someone else would’ve had to step up and that someone else is probably searching for midfield time. It was a bit later than we thought but we got what we expected.”
Asked whether he agreed with Fagan that Neale’s availability is “good for footy”, Longmuir said he is among those who “just want consistency”.
“I think there has been precedents with Lachie getting off so there’s consistency there,” he said.
“And if players who have great records who have contributed so much to our game get a bit of leeway at certain times I don’t think that’s a bad thing for the game.”
Neale’s presence in the Brisbane team means Noah Answerth will miss out despite being available after overcoming an ankle injury suffered in the Lions’ first final.
“Difficult decision. Coaches aren’t supposed to have favourite players but he’s one of mine,” Fagan said, saying he prioritised match fitness.
“I guess if Lachie hadn’t have played Noah would’ve come into the team and Jaspa Fletcher would’ve pushed up onto a wing. That’s how close he was.”
Fremantle defender Brennan Cox suffered the same heartbreak, having been overlooked despite bouncing back from a calf injury suffered on August 22.
Longmuir and captain Alex Pearce both said they had tough conversations with Cox but paid tribute to his response.
“It was close, clearly close. He was right to play some footy last week,” Longmuir said.
“Same as what Fages said, we went with continuity and consistency of team. We went with AFL match fitness.
“It was a really difficult conversation, more for him, and there’s been others this week. We’ve had senior players miss out on a moment they’ve been striving for for a long time.
“I can understand the disappointment, nothing I can say is going to make it feel better in the moment. But they’re all really mature, great team players who once they get over their disappointment they’ll give good energy and help their teammates.
“As disappointing it is they’ve rebounded and will give whatever the team needs until the game starts.”
Pearce sat down with Cox after the news was delivered and “gave him a hug”.
“The thing with Brennan is he’s got such great character and one of the first things he said was don’t worry I’ll still give to the group and that’s what he’s done,” the skipper said.
“One of the great traits of Brennan is his personality, he’s bubbly, the energy, he’s able to get through some nervousness and whatnot.
“Having him amongst the group over these couple of days has been great. He’s brought his kids over, his little fella Arlo’s been mucking around with the players.
“I know deep down how much he’d be hurting but he’s giving to the team and making us better still.”
Both coaches flagged there would be no late team changes despite forecast rain on Saturday morning and potentially the afternoon.
