Coach’s bombshell Lachie Neale remark as rumours continue to swirl
A senior AFL coach has raised eyebrows while commenting on the future of Lachie Neale as rumours continue to surround the star.
A senior coach has left the door ajar to the idea of his club luring back a former superstar.
Plus, Sam Darcy’s mystery “general soreness” has been clarified.
Fremantle hasn’t ruled out attempting to lure back Lachie Neale.
Dual Brownlow medallist Neale comes out of contract at Brisbane this year, and it’s not out of the realms of possibility to think he might consider a return to the place he started his career and played 135 games.
And Dockers coach Justin Longmuir has left the door open to a Fremantle reunion for the West Australian native.
“That’s something we’ll have to look at throughout the year,” Longmuir told Nine News Perth of the prospect.
“I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t entertain it, but I don’t really see it (list management) as my job, especially at this time of year.
“He’s a contracted player at another club, and I haven’t really put any time into thinking about 2027, let alone player personnel in 2027 from other clubs.”
Neale, 32, stood down from Brisbane’s co-captaincy after back-to-back years leading the Lions to premierships, following a public marriage collapse with wife Jules.
Lions coach Chris Fagan has already said this off-season that he and the club wouldn’t begrudge Neale if he exercised his free agency rights at the end of this season.
“I hope he stays and plays with us, but if he chooses to move back to Perth because he needs to be closer 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.”
MYSTERY DARCY INJURIES REVEALED
It’s been revealed that prodigious Western Bulldogs forward Sam Darcy has been dealing with hip and groin soreness since AFL Origin.
It comes days after the Bulldogs mysteriously put Darcy’s absence from Friday’s practice match hitout against Hawthorn down to “general soreness”.
According to Herald Sun and Fox Footy reporter Jay Clark, the ascending 22-year-old received a knock to his back during the Western Australia vs. Victoria clash on February 14, which has left him with “lingering soreness” in the hip and groin.
“He trained earlier today (on Friday), had a controlled session,” Dogs assistant Jarryn Geary told media after the club’s Community Series hitout against Hawthorn.
“He’ll be assessed on Wednesday (when) we have our main training session, he’ll get through that hopefully, then we’ll see how he goes next week.”
Clark added “it remains a tight call”, with Bulldogs’ sports medicine boss Chris Bell telling the masthead: “He did an hour-long training session (on Friday), and we will need to see how he pulls up before we can confirm his availability next week.”
However, a Bulldog who certainly won’t play against the Lions is young midfielder Ryley Sanders, after he was concussed on Friday night.
The Dogs are seven days out from their Opening Round clash with back-to-back reigning premiers Brisbane at The Gabba.
Originally published as Coach’s bombshell Lachie Neale remark as rumours continue to swirl