Can the Lions win without Lachie Neale? These AFL greats insist they can

1 week ago 3

The aftermath of Brisbane’s defeat to Geelong proved more humbling than the nature of the loss, amid revelations marquee man Lachie Neale would be sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

But four-time premiership-winner and former Lions star Luke Hodge insists the defending champions can return to the promised land without their inspiration co-captain, tipping the club’s contingent of young stars to rise to the occasion.

“History shows losing a guy like Lachie Neale is going to hurt, but what you do need is depth, senior blokes to stand up, and most importantly young guys to come into the side and play their role,” Hodge said, speaking as the AFL premiership cup arrived in Brisbane at the Morningside Panthers.

Lachie Neale won’t feature in the rest of Brisbane’s finals campaign because of a calf injury.

“What you do need in big games is your leaders to stand up, play well and be consistent, and I guess a few of them were a little bit off against the Cats, and they really got exploited.

“[But] you can’t say the Lions can’t do it because they’ve been able to do it for 18 months and win a premiership by doing it last year with a lot of injuries.

“You can’t ever count them out after what we’ve learnt about them.”

Neale succumbed to a calf injury in his side’s 38-point qualifying final reality check by the Cats, joining key forward Eric Hipwood (ACL), Jack Payne (knee), Keidean Coleman (quad), Noah Answerth (Achillies) and Lincoln McCarthy (knee) in the casualty ward.

But the Lions have form on their side without the two-time Brownlow Medal winner, conquering fellow finalists Hawthorn and Fremantle while he was out with a quad concern.

Hodge was adamant the Lions had the star power in the midfield to offset Neale’s loss – backing All Australians Hugh McCluggage and Zac Bailey, and Norm Smith Medalist Will Ashcroft, to shine in their semi-final showdown with the Gold Coast Suns.

“When Lachie missed a few weeks with that quad, Zac Bailey went into the midfield and won a couple of games just because of his ability, and he’s waiting to take the opportunity to stand up,” Neale said.

“With the young guys, whenever they step into the Brisbane Lions’ side, they’re not going straight into the middle. Will had to go and play half-forward and wing and learn his role before he got an opportunity in the middle.

“Levi [Ashcroft] wants to play middle, but guess what? You’ve got to go and learn your apprenticeship. Zac Bailey was half-forward for five years before he got a chance to go in the middle.

“These guys have been in and around blokes like Hugh, Dunks [Josh Dunkley] and Lachie for the last few years to learn, so when it’s their opportunity they can step up and do it. No doubt they’re sitting back licking their lips.”

Hodge pointed to the “resilience they’ve built up over the last five or six years” as evidence they could overcome the setbacks – from their injury toll in 2024 to their comeback September triumphs against the Giants and Cats.

Hipwood’s absence will also heighten the need for 20-year-old breakout gun Logan Morris – who has kicked 49 goals this year – to lead up front.

However, Lions Academy development coach Grant Birchall believes rookie Ty Gallop was ready to assume a greater role in the forward line.

Birchall, who won four titles with Hawthorn before playing 39 games for Brisbane, mentored the 19-year-old Gallop ahead of his AFL ascent, and was confident he had shown enough in his first three games to suggest he could handle the occasion if called upon.

“He’s an absolute beauty Ty, you know what you’re going to get from him, and he’s a very popular team member,” Birchall said.

“It’s just great to see him get an opportunity, and it’s great to see his development over the last couple of years.”

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