Lachie Neale to return to Dockers? Forget about it
Justin Chadwick |
Fremantle have played down the prospect of making an audacious bid for Brisbane star Lachie Neale, saying requests for midfield minutes is already at full brim.
Neale spent his first seven seasons at Fremantle before moving to Brisbane at the end of 2018, with the 32-year-old winning two Brownlow Medals and the 2024 premiership in his time at the Lions.
The 293-game veteran is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2026, and although there have been rumours across the years of a potential return to Fremantle, the Dockers played down that prospect on Thursday.
“I think there’s been a few whispers about Lachie over the journey,” Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty said with a laugh when asked about Neale, who will miss the rest of the AFL finals series with a calf injury.
“He’s an amazing talent. We feel like our midfield is in a pretty good place at the moment. Even in the exit meetings, there’s a lot of guys asking for midfield minutes.
“We feel like we’re in a good place, and I’m sure Lachie and his partner and their kids are happy with where they are.”
Fremantle defender James Aish announced his retirement on Thursday, ending a career that spanned 32 games with Brisbane, 50 with Collingwood and 104 at the Dockers.
The 29-year-old managed just three games this year, and retires in the same season as his good mate Nat Fyfe.
Fremantle announced new deals for forward Michael Frederick, defender Oscar McDonald and winger Jeremy Sharp.
Frederick, who was already signed for 2026, is now locked in until 2029, Sharp’s new deal takes him through to 2027, and McDonald has signed a one-year deal for 2026.
There were rumours earlier this year that star Dockers ruckman Luke Jackson wanted to be traded back to Melbourne for personal reasons.
Brierty shut down that prospect, saying Jackson didn’t indicate anything of that nature in his exit meeting this week.
“There hasn’t been any talk at any stage in the past 12 months,” Brierty said of Jackson, who is contracted until the end of 2029.
“There’s gong to be speculation, it’s the industry we’re in, but Luke’s really happy.
“He’s had a great season. He’s grown his forward craft. He’s been able to play and grow his on-ball capabilities as well.
“He’s contracted long-term here, so he’s a big part of our future.”
Jackson was deployed as a big-bodied midfielder at times this year, an experiment that’s set to go up a notch next season.
“We’d love him to grow a little bit more as a midfielder as well and to have a pre-season under his belt working closely with (assistant coach) Joel Corey and the other mids,” Brierty said.
“He sees his talent as being around the ball, 100 per cent.
“He and Sean (Darcy) and their ability to tag-team against a key ruck and gradually break then down over the game … we see that as a strength as well.”
AAP
