Lachie Neale tribunal hearing: One match ban upheld after marathon tribunal hearing
It’s the biggest question of grand final week: Will Lachie Neale be freed to play after a marathon four hour hearing we have our answer.
AFL: Lachie Neale will miss this weekend’s grand final against Fremantle after an extraordinary tribunal hearing on Tuesday night that lasted more than four hours.
The Brisbane star is fronted the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday afternoon as looking to overturn a one-match ban for striking.
However, the tribunal could not find sufficient reason to overturn the decision even when factoring in Neal’es exemplary record given the act was intentional.
The verdict is a significant one for the grand final, with Neale one of the Lions’ most prominent midfield stars in the match-up with his former club.
Follow all the developments from the hearing below, with proceedings set to get underway at 3pm WA time.
Key events
22 Sep 2026 - 08:36 PM
ANALYSIS
22 Sep 2026 - 07:53 PM
Explainer
22 Sep 2026 - 07:48 PM
Brisbane could appeal
22 Sep 2026 - 07:39 PM
Lachie Neale’s ban is upheld
22 Sep 2026 - 07:33 PM
It’s all going to come down to the exceptional circumstances
22 Sep 2026 - 07:28 PM
We’re back,
22 Sep 2026 - 07:14 PM
Andrew Dillon weighs in
22 Sep 2026 - 07:05 PM
We’ve officially passed the four-mark
22 Sep 2026 - 05:13 PM
Deliberations underway
22 Sep 2026 - 05:10 PM
Gleeson says Neale is ‘pretty close’ to a unicorn
22 Sep 2026 - 05:03 PM
The AFL responds as we pass the two-hour mark
22 Sep 2026 - 04:50 PM
Gleeson says an ‘intentional’ strike would make Anderson arguments innaporpriate
22 Sep 2026 - 04:23 PM
The Tribunal chair pipes in
22 Sep 2026 - 04:09 PM
The Lions go back to the vision
22 Sep 2026 - 03:47 PM
The AFL says Neale’s action is a clear strike
22 Sep 2026 - 03:36 PM
Neale is now being questioned by the AFL
22 Sep 2026 - 03:25 PM
Neale says he’s spoken to Ginnivan
22 Sep 2026 - 03:16 PM
Neale describes the incident
22 Sep 2026 - 03:05 PM
We’re underway
22 Sep 2026 - 03:00 PM
The argument Brisbane will try to make
22 Sep 2026 - 02:38 PM
What’s at stake
That’s all, folks
Well they took their time but the bottom line is Lachie Neale won;t play this weekend and Fremantle just got a massive boost for their flag hopes.
Thanks for joining us throughout the afternoon and we’ll have plenty more coming throughout the week.
ANALYSIS
Lachie Neale wanted the AFL Tribunal to look at his glittering career and clear him for the grand final under exceptional and compelling circumstances, but the panel looked at other behaviour and said no.
End of the Lion
As an aside to this week, the suspension also means Neale won’t get a proper Brisbane farewell with his move to Collingwood all but confirmed.
His last game will have been the preliminary win, ending his eight-year stint with the Lions
Explainer
Here’s how the dramatic hearing unfolded and the key points that were made.
Brisbane could appeal
The Lachie Neale saga is not over with Brisbane having that right to appeal.
Who knows what could happen in that scenario, as we’d be in Andrew Dunkley 1996 territory.
Lachie Neale’s ban is upheld
“This is an intentional strike; the provision of exceptional circumstances has never been used in that context,” Gleeson explains.
“This is not the first occasion in which Neale has been found to have struck his opponent.
“The purpose of the guideline is to stamp out this contact, and Neale ignored it.”
That is a massive call.
It’s all going to come down to the exceptional circumstances
“We have no difficuly in finding this was an intentional strike and medium impact,” Gleeson explains.
“Ginnivan doubles over in a manner that is consistent with being struck and of a significant impact, nor did he accentuate contact.
“We place little weight on the hearsay evidence from Ginnivan; a strike can occur with an open hand or arm.
“This was to use the common vernacular a strike to the guts. There is no doubt in our mind this should be medium impact.”
We’re back,
It’s happening!
Gleeson says he’s conscious of the time he’s taken, which is nice.
Andrew Dillon weighs in
The deliberation has now taken longer than the hearing which is something.
Andrew Dillon has shared his thoughts on Agenda Setters.
We’ve officially passed the four-mark
Craig O’Donoghue says he would be happy to run a four-hour marathon.
Toby Greene’s tribunal over intentional umpire contact in 2021 took more than four hours; that’s the only other one I can think of.
