Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Collingwood will keep their “hat in the ring” for Lachie Neale as the Brisbane Lions legend weighs up where to end his storied AFL career.
The dual Brownlow medallist is considering offers from multiple clubs, recently meeting with St Kilda and Essendon.
The Magpies were the first Victorian outfit to express interest in Neale, after the prevailing thought was he would move to Western Australia if he left the Lions.
Neale’s estranged wife Jules moved to Perth with the couple’s two children when their marriage broke down late last year.
“I love playing here (Brisbane) so I’ve just got to weigh up success, finance and everything that goes along with playing footy,” Neale told Fox Footy last week.
Collingwood want to add midfield support for superstar Nick Daicos and keep challenging for premierships, rather than rebuild.
“Until any free agent is signed … we’ve got a strategic plan around looking at who’s available, and we’ll just keep our hat in the ring and see how we go with that,” Magpies coach Craig McRae said of the club’s pursuit of Neale.
McRae didn’t respond when asked how his meeting with Neale went.
Last year, McRae famously spoke about going on “dates” with Jack Silvagni.
Ultimately, Silvagni chose to leave Carlton and move to St Kilda rather than make a controversial switch to the Blues’ arch-enemy.
After the Lions’ win in Geelong last Thursday night, Neale met with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon and Saints football boss Lenny Hayes.
Lyon coached Neale at Fremantle before the four-time All-Australian’s bombshell move to Brisbane ahead of the 2019 season.
The Saints’ chase of Neale comes less than a year after the club unceremoniously moved on captain Jack Steele while he was still under contract until the end of 2027.
Neale is three years older than Steele and both are inside midfielders.
Steele has played a crucial part in Melbourne’s rise back up the ladder this season.
“It’s been interesting to watch,” Steele said on Tuesday about St Kilda’s pursuit of Neale.
“But I wouldn’t say I’m too invested in it.
“I’m at the Dees now, and that’s really where my mind’s at, and where my priority is.”
Neale has one of the most decorated CVs in the AFL across 310 games – 175 for Brisbane and 135 for Fremantle.
The six-time best-and-fairest winner – four at Brisbane and two at Fremantle – is enjoying another stellar season that could have him in contention for a third Brownlow Medal.
