AFL grand final: Brisbane Lions confirm they will appeal Lachie Neale tribunal result after suspension upheld

Brisbane will use their final roll of the dice in a last-ditch effort to get Lachie Neale freed to play in the grand final, with the club to lodge an appeal of Tuesday’s AFL Tribunal verdict.

Despite a marathon, four-hour hearing on Tuesday night which saw the AFL tribunal uphold the decision to ban the Brisbane star from Saturday’s blockbuster, the Lions are set to do everything possible to regain the midfielder for the clash with Fremantle.

The Lions on Wednesday confirmed they will appeal the decision to not overturn the suspension, which will force the AFL’s independent appeals board to convene in the lead-up to the grand final.

Neale had argued his excellent previous record should not prevent him from lining up in the grand final despite striking Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan in Brisbane’s preliminary final victory.

However, the tribunal rejected that notion and pointed out he had previously been fined multiple times for punching players in the stomach.

Neale’s inclusion would provide Brisbane with a huge boost, having been the runner-up in Norm Smith Medal voting in Brisbane’s 2024 flag win and overcome a calf injury to produce an inspirational performance in their 2025 triumph.