Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Lachie Neale says it’s “100 per cent the truth” he has not made a firm decision on where he will play next season as a raft of clubs eagerly try to entice the Lions star to join them.
Neale, who is off contract as an unrestricted free agent in 2027, has been linked to numerous clubs, including Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, and Essendon.
But with his children now living in Perth with his estranged wife, a move to WA — where he played for Fremantle for seven years — has also not been ruled out.
Jules Neale has moved to Perth with the couple’s two children since their marriage broke down late last year.
After the Lions’ important 22-point win over Geelong last night, Neale gave his most in-depth interview yet about the factors weighing on him — chiefly family and financial.
“Obviously my kids, it’s well documented (they) are in Perth, I’ve got my family – dad’s living in Hamilton at the moment, gets back to Robe on the weekends,” he said on Fox Footy.
“And my mum and my stepdad are on a farm on the border of SA and Vic, so it’s weighing up whether to be closer to them, closer to the kids, whether I stay in Brisbane and make that work as well, that’s definitely a chance.
“So I’ve just got to weigh everything … success, finance, everything that goes along with playing footy.
“I’m 33, probably don’t have that long left, so just weigh it all up and I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do.
“It’s 100 per cent the truth, I’m not sure what I’ll decide but I’m loving playing for this club and hopefully we can make a run at it this year.”
The dual Brownlow Medallist also said what he would be doing post-football was also important in determining where he would play next, and he had not ruled out staying at Brisbane where he has won two flags.
“It’s nice to be 33 and feel a little bit wanted, probably doesn’t happen that often,” he said.
“I love my football, I love playing it for this footy club, what will be will work itself out over the next six to eight weeks in the back half of the year and I’ll leave Tommy Petroro (manager) to deal with most of that.
“Yes, if I’m honest (I) have to go to a couple of meetings and delve into it a little bit, but it’s more talking about the future and more post-footy as well and have those chats with Brisbane too.”
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan insists he is “cool” with Neale meeting rival clubs in-season, but did admit the public speculation over one of his star player’s futures mid-season was not something he previously would have been happy about.
“Lachie Neale is a free agent, and he’s had a fair few things going on in his life, and he has to be able to deal with that going forward,” Fagan said.
“It’s not just from a domestic perspective, but financially as well. He has to explore his options.
“Old-fashioned me, I wouldn’t like it, but I’ve come to accept that’s the modern game.
“The thing about it is, the only thing I really care about is that he’s OK himself and that he plays well for the team – and he’s doing that.”
Neale is set to meet with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon – his former boss at Fremantle – on Friday night as he weighs a range of options following the public breakdown of his marriage.
Fagan wasn’t fazed when quizzed about Neale’s interactions after Brisbane’s 19.9 (123) to 14.17 (101) win over Geelong on Thursday night.
The 65-year-old coach admitted “the ball’s in his court” but added the Lions are keen to keep Neale in Birsbane.
Neale shone with 28 disposals and six clearances against Geelong as Brisbane leapfrogged their opponents into fourth spot on the ladder with a fourth straight win.
Fagan rejected suggestions the uncertainty around Neale’s future and the public nature of his meetings with rival clubs would unsettle the Lions in their bid for a hat-trick of premierships.
“Probably 10 years ago it wouldn’t be too good, it’d be frowned upon, but I think times are changing in that space and that’s probably a good thing,” Fagan said.
“I mean, if you’ve got free agency, these things are going to happen, so why get all tied up in knots about it?
“The main thing is, we know that we want him and we love him.
“He’s at a crossroads in his life where he has to make a decision, and he’s got a lot going on. I’m sure he’ll work it out.”
With AAP
