Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale will miss this weekend’s AFL Grand Final after the AFL tribunal upheld a one-match ban.
Neale was suspended after an incident with Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan during Brisbane’s preliminary final win last Saturday.
The Lions are playing the Fremantle Dockers in the 2026 Grand Final at 2:30pm on Saturday.
Here’s what to know.
Background
Neale was facing a one-match suspension for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan during Saturday’s preliminary final.
The strike was seen to be intentional conduct and of medium impact.
The 33-year-old midfielder has played in the past three Grand Finals with Brisbane, captaining the club to premierships in 2024 and 2025.
He is also a two-time winner of the Brownlow Medal, which is awarded annually to the AFL’s best and fairest player.
Appeal
During the Tribunal, Neale’s lawyer submitted the following arguments:
Firstly, that it was not a strike.
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Rather, it was a bump or body check.
Secondly, that if the Tribunal believes it was a strike, it was a strike of low impact.
And thirdly, that Neale should avoid a ban for “exceptional and compelling circumstances.”
Those circumstances are that it is a Grand Final match and that Neale has an exemplary record.
Neale has played 320 AFL matches and has never previously been suspended.
He has also been the recipient of numerous football-related accolades.
Andrew Woods KC, making submissions for the AFL, argued that it was a “very clear strike”, with Neale’s arm hitting Ginnivan’s body.
Decision
After some deliberation, the Tribunal panel came to the decision that “this was a forceful blow, delivered with a swinging arm and an open hand”.
Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson KC added: "When played at normal speed, it appears clear to us that this was, to use the common vernacular, a strike to the guts. We are comfortably satisfied that this is what occurred."
It means Neale is unable to play for Brisbane as the club looks to win a third consecutive premiership.
