{"id":90193,"date":"2026-09-07T12:15:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T12:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/90193\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T12:15:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T12:15:10","slug":"brisbane-midfielder-lachie-neale-under-fire-for-never-ending-distraction-amid-premiership-tilt-not-all-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/90193\/","title":{"rendered":"Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale under fire for never-ending distraction amid premiership tilt: \u2018Not all-in\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lachie Neale\u2019s commitment to Brisbane\u2019s<\/a> premiership quest has been questioned with AFL<\/a> great Kane Cornes arguing the star midfielder is not \u201call-in\u201d. <\/p>\n

Neale has been a walking headline this year with his much-publicised marriage breakdown<\/a> and future at the Lions a constant talking point. <\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Lachie Neale faces scrutiny for finals flop<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite the seemingly big off-field distractions, the two-time Brownlow medallist has put together another brilliant season with the Lions, averaging over 29 possessions a game. <\/p>\n

But he was off the boil in the shock loss to Sydney in Saturday\u2019s qualifying final as he managed just 18 disposals \u2014 his second-lowest tally of the season. <\/p>\n

He also had a season-low two clearances and six contested possessions. <\/p>\n

\"Neale\u2019sNeale\u2019s numbers against Sydney were alarmingly low. Credit: Seven<\/p>\n

Neale is widely expected to join Collingwood as a free agent at the end of the season on a blockbuster three-year deal. <\/p>\n

He recently created headlines for touring the Magpies a day before a game<\/a> and last week 7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire revealed Neale is already enquiring about what jumper numbers are available. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to say no (he\u2019s not all-in),\u201d Cornes said on The Agenda Setters.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s his numbers from the week, and you can have a bad game. I get it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we were there on Thursday night, and we saw a team that was fully committed who were all in. The Hawks. And they were prepared to physically sacrifice for their team, their teammates, their coach, their club, their supporters, in the thought that they may be able to cause a huge upset and put themselves in the box seat to win a premiership. <\/p>\n

\u201cLachie\u2019s not doing that.<\/p>\n

\u201cLachie\u2019s touring Collingwood the day before a game during the year. Lachie, during the week, is ringing Collingwood, trying to work out what number he\u2019s going to wear at the Pies next year.\u201d <\/p>\n

Cornes also put the blowtorch on fellow Lions Zac Bailey, who is weighing up his own free agency decision, Hugh McCluggage and Cam Rayner. <\/p>\n

\u201cZac Bailey\u2019s not doing that. He\u2019s worrying about an extra 100 grand on his contract,\u201d he continued. <\/p>\n

\u201cHugh McCluggage\u2019s just trying to get through and get himself back from injury. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou just cannot say the same about Brisbane. And unless you\u2019re all doing that, you\u2019re not winning a third premiership in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LachieLachie Neale has been a never-ending distraction for the Lions this year. Credit: Getty \/ Fox Footy<\/p>\n

Neale\u2019s personal life was thrust back into the spotlight recently when Jules Neale and Tess Crosley both gave tell-all interviews<\/a> on separate podcasts. <\/p>\n

He has also been pictured with a new flame in another potential distraction. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt has to be (a distraction),\u201d Nick Riewoldt said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re three weeks away from the end of your Brisbane Lions career, and there\u2019s an opportunity to end it on the highest of all highs. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo rare air if they\u2019re able to go three in a row. And it has become a bit of a travelling circus when it concerns Lachie Neale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornes added: \u201cThis is distracting. It\u2019s unusual, and it\u2019s tabloid fodder, and we understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rayner was also singled out for his poor performances as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a guy that I feel like we\u2019re always just waiting to be the firestarter, to be the igniter,\u201d Riewoldt said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t really know whether that\u2019s his go. Is he a guy that … Does he help you win? Or does he help you win by more when everything\u2019s going really well on the inside? <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he\u2019s not the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency guy that we think he is at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornes said the Lions should have given Rayner a wake-up call by dropping him to the VFL during the season. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat never happens. But then the next week, he\u2019ll break eight tackles like he did in the final against Gold Coast and he\u2019ll play a good game every seven or eight weeks,\u201d Cornes said. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo then you go, OK, well, Cam Rayner\u2019s back. But he wasn\u2019t back on the weekend. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just think they need to be more demanding of Cam and they\u2019ve let him get away with some faults for too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Demons vice-captain told to find new club in brutal exit meeting<\/p>\n

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3 min read<\/p>\n

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