Brisbane's Lachie Neale Suspended for AFL Grand Final 2026

Brisbane Lions' Lachie Neale will miss the AFL grand final after his one-game ban for striking was upheld by the AFL tribunal. The two-time Brownlow medallist was suspended for striking Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan in last week's preliminary final, and the tribunal's decision means he will not play in Saturday's season decider against Fremantle.

The Incident and Tribunal Verdict

The incident occurred during the preliminary final when Neale struck Ginnivan off the ball. The tribunal, chaired by Jeff Gleeson, found that Neale intentionally struck Ginnivan with medium impact. The verdict was delivered at 9:40 pm on Tuesday night after more than two hours of submissions and two hours of deliberations.

"In the end, Neale delivered an intentional strike off the ball to an unsuspecting opponent," Gleeson said. "To use the language that has been used more than once this evening, Neale intended to strike him in the guts for the way he behaved towards [Neale's teammate Eric] Hipwood, and he did strike him in the guts."

Neale's Exemplary Record

Neale had never been suspended across 320 matches, but the tribunal found that even his outstanding record did not render a one-match suspension for that act inappropriate. The Lions had argued that his exemplary record warranted the ban being set aside due to exceptional and compelling circumstances, similar to the case of Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury earlier this year. However, the tribunal rejected this argument.

Impact on the Grand Final

Neale's absence is a significant blow for the Brisbane Lions as they prepare to face Fremantle in the grand final. As a key midfielder and two-time Brownlow medallist, his experience and skill will be sorely missed. The Lions may still appeal the verdict in a last-ditch bid to have Neale take the field, but the prospects appear slim.

Comparison of Similar Cases

Key Takeaways

• Lachie Neale will miss the AFL grand final after his one-game ban was upheld.
• The tribunal found Neale intentionally struck Jack Ginnivan with medium impact.
• Neale's exemplary 320-game record without suspension was not enough to avoid the ban.
• The Brisbane Lions may still appeal the decision.
• Neale's absence is a major blow for the Lions against Fremantle.

FAQ

Best Products We’ve Tested and Rated

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of budget motherboard, kvm, pc surge protector, closed back headphones, and pc rust. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of laptop backpack, cat ethernet cable, antivirus, budget projector, and keyboard switch. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.