Lachie Neale to miss AFL grand final after suspension upholds
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 22, 2026, 11:57 AM
Last updated Sep 22, 2026
Brisbane Lions midfielder Lachie Neale will not play in Saturday's AFL grand final following the AFL tribunal's decision to uphold his one-game ban for striking Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan during the preliminary final. Neale, a dual Brownlow medallist, had previously maintained a clean disciplinary record over 320 matches. Despite his appeal citing 'exceptional circumstances', the tribunal rejected the claim, similar to an earlier case involving Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury. This leaves the Lions without a key player ahead of the championship match.
- •Lachie Neale received a one-game ban for intentional striking.
- •The AFL tribunal rejected Neale's appeal for exceptional circumstances.
- •Neale is a dual Brownlow medallist with no prior suspensions.
- •Brisbane Lions face a significant challenge in the grand final without him.
- 11:57 AMThe Guardian Sport — Brisbane’s Lachie Neale to miss grand final as AFL’s one-game ban upheld
"Dual Brownlow medallist guilty of intentional striking Plea of ‘exceptional circumstances’ rejected The prospect of Brisbane Lions’ midfielder Lachie Neale playing in Saturday’s AFL grand final has plummeted after his suspension for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan in last week’s preliminary final was upheld by the AFL tribunal. The two-time Brownlow medallist had never been suspended across 320 matches, but he failed to argue his exemplary record warranted this week’s ban be set aside due to the so-called exceptional and compelling circumstances afforded to Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury earlier this year. Continue reading...
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