Brisbane Lions senior coach Chris Fagan has expressed his hope that star midfielder Lachie Neale will remain at the club beyond the 2025 AFL season, but has vowed not to stand in the player's way if he chooses to move closer to his family.
Co-Captain Steps Down Amid Personal Turmoil
The situation follows Neale's decision to step down as a co-captain of the Lions on January 2, a move he announced at an emotional press conference where he stated he had let his family down. This came amid the very public breakdown of his marriage to Jules Neale, who has since moved back to her home city of Perth with the couple's two young children.
The family's relocation to Western Australia, where Neale previously played for Fremantle, has sparked intense speculation that the 32-year-old, two-time Brownlow Medallist could seek a return to a WA-based club when his contract expires at the end of the upcoming season. At that point, he will become an unrestricted free agent, granting him full control over his playing future.
Fagan's Unconditional Support for Neale
Speaking to media on Thursday, Fagan was candid about the uncertainty but emphatic in his support for the player's wellbeing. "I don't know the answer to that either. I hope he does [stay], but he's an unrestricted free agent," Fagan stated.
He emphasised that Neale likely needs the next six or seven months to determine his next steps. "I hope he stays and plays with us. But if he chooses to move back to Perth, because he needs to be close to his children, then he'll do that with our blessing," Fagan said. "We're not going to hold anyone to ransom. We'll just go along with the flow on that."
The coach described Neale's choice to relinquish the co-captaincy, which was already under consideration, as a "sensible decision" given the challenging circumstances. He expressed sadness for all involved and the public nature of the ordeal, but stressed the club's role is to offer support.
Leadership Reshuffle and On-Field Focus
Despite the off-field turbulence, Fagan does not believe the situation will derail Brisbane's quest for a third consecutive Grand Final appearance. He praised the maturity of the playing group and Neale's own character, highlighting the "emotional intelligence" the player showed by addressing the media voluntarily.
"Our group's a pretty mature group. They're able to separate what happens in someone's private life from what happens here at the club," Fagan noted, confident Neale can still have another outstanding season.
With Neale stepping aside from the formal leadership role, Fagan indicated the captaincy structure will be reviewed. The likely outcome is that Harris Andrews will become the sole skipper, or he could be joined by new co-captains such as Josh Dunkley or Hugh McCluggage.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether one of the AFL's premier players continues his career in Brisbane or makes a heart-driven return to Western Australia.
