Lachie Neale’s hopes of playing in the AFL grand final are hanging in the balance, while a fresh image of the Brisbane midfielder celebrating alongside girlfriend Emma Field has emerged amid debate over whether the league’s rules could be open to manipulation.
The dual Brownlow medallist risks missing Saturday’s decider against his old team, Fremantle, after being handed a one-match suspension for striking Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan.
Brisbane plans to contest the penalty, with Neale’s unblemished suspension record over 320 AFL matches expected to form a central part of the club’s case.
However, St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt cautioned that players who have already missed games for comparable incidents this season could be furious if Neale’s ban is overturned.
Neale made contact with Ginnivan’s stomach during the opening quarter of Saturday night’s preliminary final, intervening while the Hawthorn forward was grappling with Brisbane teammate Eric Hipwood.
Match officials classified the act as intentional conduct involving body contact and medium impact.
Lachie Neale could be forced to watch the grand final from the sidelines after being suspended for striking Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan
Emma Field, pictured left, joined Neale and friend Gabrielle Scalzi in Brisbane’s rooms after the Lions defeated Hawthorn in the preliminary final
Brisbane may point to Neale’s clean disciplinary record across 320 matches as it seeks to have his one-game suspension overturned
The ruling has put the 33-year-old in danger of missing Brisbane’s attempt to secure a third straight premiership.
Before the suspension cloud formed, Neale enjoyed the celebrations inside the Lions’ rooms, posing for a photograph with Field and her friend Gabrielle Scalzi after the victory.
Neale and Field were first seen together at Brisbane Airport in early August. He later posted an image of Field on Instagram Stories, although she was photographed with her back to the camera.
The focus is now firmly on whether Neale’s disciplinary record can keep his grand final campaign alive.
Under AFL rules, a player with an exemplary history can argue that their record represents “exceptional and compelling circumstances”.
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury successfully used a similar argument earlier this season to avoid suspension for a bump, and Riewoldt believes Brisbane could attempt the same approach.
“You can make the same argument that missing a grand final is compelling and exceptional circumstances,” Riewoldt said.
“Whenever you have these subjective rules, as the AFL does, there is an opportunity for them to be manipulated.”
Nick Riewoldt said the AFL’s subjective regulations could be “manipulated” as Brisbane prepares to challenge the suspension
Jimmy Bartel said the outlook was “not looking good” for Neale before his expected tribunal appearance on Tuesday
“I think that’s Brisbane’s best chance of getting him off. But you’re right, the players who have served a week for those types of incidents this year would be filthy if Lachie gets off.”
Hawthorn’s James Sicily and Dylan Moore, along with Adelaide forward Riley Thilthorpe, are among those suspended for stomach strikes this season.
The exemplary-record provision is separate from the scrapped ‘good bloke’ clause, which allowed character references to be used at the tribunal.
Geelong great Jimmy Bartel offered a less optimistic assessment.
‘It doesn’t look good,’ he said.
‘It may go in his favour the fact that he [Neale] has played over 300 games.
‘They will look at it, see if they can find better footage and I know Brisbane will try their absolute best to get off … but it’s not looking good for him.
‘Who knows, it’s grand final week.’
Brisbane could also seek to have the impact grading reduced from medium to low, according to Nine.
The hearing is expected on Tuesday night.
The football drama comes after months of scrutiny surrounding Neale’s personal life following his split from estranged wife Jules last December.
But his immediate concern is another agonising grand final week after a calf injury threatened his involvement last year.
He eventually played as the substitute against Geelong, collecting 17 disposals and kicking a goal as Brisbane secured back-to-back premierships.
READ MORE: Lachie Neale faces shock ban from AFL Grand Final after spiteful clash against Hawthorn: Star may have played his last game for Lions
