AFL Tribunal upholds Lachie Neale's one-match ban for striking

The AFL Tribunal confirmed Lachie Neale's one-match suspension for striking Jack Ginnivan during the preliminary final on September 16, 2026. Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson described Neale's evidence as "inconsistent" with video footage of the incident. The Tribunal did not apply the 'exceptional and compelling' clause to reduce Neale's penalty, citing differences in the nature of conduct that led to previous applications of the clause. Neale will miss the Grand Final against Fremantle on September 24, 2026. The decision follows Neale's history of previous offenses, although he had never been suspended prior to this ruling.

• 10:00 PMAFL — Neale's evidence 'inconsistent', why Pendlebury clause did not apply