St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has announced that his club has removed itself from the race for Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale.
Speaking on 3AW's pre-game broadcast for the St Kilda-Port Adelaide clash at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, Lyon said the club had decided not to pursue Neale's signature this off-season.
"Just to bring that to a really fine point, and I've spoken to Lachie this weekend, we're officially out of the Lachie Neale race," Lyon said on the 3AW broadcast.
"Not because we don't value him and he wouldn't be incredible, but we are just not in a position to do it with our young midfield and what we're trying to do and commit and sign.
"Lachie knows that and Tom Petroro his manager knows that."
The two-time Brownlow Medallist has been the subject of much speculation as he has openly spoken about weighing up where his future lies in 2027 and beyond.
Neale is out of contract at the end of the season and while he is not confirmed to leave the Lions, he is being courted by the likes of Collingwood, Essendon, Western Australian and South Australian clubs.
Lyon, who used to coach Neale when the pair were at Fremantle together from 2012-18, met with the 33-year-old in Melbourne recently. But as of Saturday, he confirmed the club was instead focusing its time and resources on its crop of young players.
In particular, the signature of emerging star Darcy Wilson who the Saints are confident will soon re-sign at the club.
Neale is believed to most likely land at Collingwood this off-season, with the Pies offering a strong contract both in terms of salary and length and confident he will join.
