Lachie Neale faces tribunal in bid to play in AFL grand final

Fascinatingly, Neale was quizzed (by the AFL rep Andrew Woods KC) during the hearing about whether he knew what was at stake when he did what he did on Saturday (being involved in a reportable incident before a potential grand final).

Q: You went into that incident knowing that an intentional strike to the body usually costs at least a one-match suspension?

“I’m aware of those rules, yes,” Neale replied.

“But I didn’t go into that incident wanting to strike him, no.”

Q: Did you know when you went towards Ginnivan that the game you were playing in was a preliminary final? Was that at the front of your mind?

“I knew it was a preliminary final, but in that very moment I was just thinking about the game. I’m not really thinking about what final I’m in,” he said.

Q: You knew that if you committed a reported offence the game you risked missed would be a grand final?

A: “I don’t think I’ve ever thought about that during a game of football, about the consequences of a report. I’ve just tried to play as fairly as possible and stick up for my teammates.”

Ladies and gentlemen, this is far from a short tribunal hearing.

“It’s relevant there’s a grand final on the line,” Neale’s representative Adrian Anderson has said during the hearing.

“This is potentially the most important match of Lachie Neale’s career. It could be a defining moment in the career if he’s to miss a historic opportunity to play in a three peat grand final.”

Moments ago, he continued with this: “If you’ve had 15 years of being a great example for young players and not getting suspended and playing the game like Lachie Neale does, it’s something deserving some credit for him if he does have a lapse, even if it’s an intentional minor lapse.

“He one of the best and one of the fairest players to have played the game.”

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