Lachie Neale is set to miss next weekend’s grand final against the Dockers after receiving a one-week suspension for a gut punch during the Lions’ win over the Hawks.
The Lions are expected to appeal the decision at the tribunal in an attempt to receive a downgrade to enable their star man to feature at the MCG in the sport’s showpiece occasion.
Watch Lachie Neale’s gut punch via the video player above
Be the first to know when news breaks. Download our new app
But precedent would suggest overturning the ruling is unlikely.
This is due to changes to the MRO guidelines which now state that intentional strikes to the stomach are graded as medium impact rather than low impact.
Max Michalanney, Riley Thilthorpe, James Sicily, Dylan Moore, Samson Ryan and Will Hayward have all been banned for one week for gut punches this season.
However, Pies star Scott Pendlebury did earn a downgrade for “exceptional and compelling circumstances”, something Neale will be hoping for given his exemplary disciplinary record.
Reigning premiers Brisbane take on Fremantle at the MCG next Saturday.
Neale, 33, is expected to leave for Collingwood at the end of the season — meaning he has likely played his final game for Brisbane.
The Lions are heading into a fourth successive grand final, and have won the last two as they go in search of a historic third consecutive flag.
But they are poised to go into the game without Neale as he falls foul of the gut punch threshold that was introduced by ex-Lions chief executive Greg Swann.
The violent act was described by former AFL player Adam Cooney as a “left-arm roundhouse”.
Cooney went on to add: “There does appear to be an incident with Lachie Neale and Ginnivan way, way off the ball…the vision we have is from the moon.”
MRO boss Michael Christian revealed at the beginning of the 2026 season his clear stance on gut punches moving forward.
He said: “It will be graded, usually, as medium, at a minimum. Usually means more than 50 per cent. That’s a significant change that will result in a week suspension.
“A strike is defined as a blow delivered with force; there’s nothing about a clenched fist in there.
“As long as the blow is delivered with force, it doesn’t matter if it’s a clenched fist or a palm of the hand.”
Neale was integral to the Lions’ grand final victory over Geelong last season, but did have to come off the bench at the G as he came into the game with a calf problem.
But he is now set to miss this year’s showdown altogether following the incident with Ginnivan.
It is perhaps the final chapter of a tumultuous year for Neale — who has made headlines off the field following his alleged infidelity and separation from wife Jules.
The footy star allegedly engaged in an affair with Jules’ friend Tess Crosley.
Both Jules and Tess recently conducted interviews giving their sides of the story.
Jules claimed Lachie cheated on her with at least two women.
And AFL expert Caroline Wilson revealed the off-field issues contributed to the Lions not offering Neale a new contract.
Speaking on 3AW, Wilson said: “My understanding is that Lachie Neale was not even offered a deal in the end by the Brisbane Lions, because they’ve known from pretty much early in the year that Lachie Neale was going.“At first they thought he’d go back west, and now we know he’s going to Collingwood.”
After claiming Neale had not “done himself any favours with his behaviour”, she continued: “The meeting at Collingwood, the reports coming out about what number he was going to wear.
“Obviously the personal life stuff has been tricky… posting stuff on social media on the day of games.
“I just wonder whether, as good as he’s been this year as a player… whether it’s probably about time Lachie Neale found a new home. I reckon there’d be teammates at Brisbane who are pretty much jack of him.”
Last month, Neale confirmed his new romance with Emma Field with a kiss in the Brisbane Lions’ dressing room after the team’s win over Collingwood.
Originally published as Brisbane Lions horror as Lachie Neale banned from grand final for gut punch