Tribunal verdict is in: Brisbane star Lachie Neale learns suspension fate

Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale's one-week suspension has been upheld, meaning the 33-year-old will miss the Grand Final on Saturday.

Neale's bid to have his suspension removed due to exceptional and compelling circumstances was also unsuccessful.

The Brisbane midfielder has likely played his last game for the Lions and will have to watch the Grand Final from the sidelines.

Neale is facing a one-match suspension for an off-ball strike on Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan, ruling him out of Saturday's Grand Final against Fremantle.

The ban came during the Lions' thrilling Preliminary Final win over the Hawks at the MCG.

Neale and Brisbane challenged the decision on Tuesday evening with the AFL Tribunal in a bid to allow the two-time Brownlow Medallist one last game, and potential flag, before he jets south to Collingwood next season.

Follow Live Blog

Welcome to Zero Hanger's live blog of the Lachie Neale Tribunal case for his off the ball hit on Ginnivan. Follow below for all the latest updates as Neale pleads his case.

Neale's counsell Mr Anderson believes what Neale did what was not a strike, and if it was, it is not strong enough of a strike to cause damage.

The AFL's counsel Mr Woods said the AFL would not be for or against Neale pushing for an exceptional case clause to the Tribunal if his suspension is upheld.

Ginnivan was assessed on the field after the incident, but he remained on the field and would not have missed any training or games from the incident.

Neale provided evidence to the Tribunal.

He brought up the fact he won two best-and-fairest awards for Fremantle during his time at the club while talking about his journey from playing football in South Australia to being drafted to Fremantle to his move to Brisbane.

Neale then acknowledged that he won four best-and-fairests, All-Australians and two Brownlow Medals during his time at Brisbane (his counsel asked him to do this he isn't just bragging).

Mr Anderson then asked if Neale was suspended at state league or AFL level during his career? The answers were both "no".

Neale said he didn't think Ginnivan's interaction with Brisbane's Eric Hipwood were good and wanted to show his disappointment.

Neale said he body checked and bump Ginnivan, felt his shoulder make contact with Ginnivan's body. Shoulder first and then his arm wrapped around Ginnivan.

He didn't feel like he was striking Ginnivan at all.

Felt that Ginnivan stopped and braced when he saw Neale coming, knew that Neale was there and that he braced for impact.

Neale said he was indicating after the incident that Ginnivan took a dive. That's why he signalled a diving action.

Neale said Ginnivan had a smile on his face but didn't say anything.

The Tribunal is now running through the vision of the incident.

Neale's counsel is indicating the footage shows Ginnivan see Neale coming and raise his left arm to brace for contact. And that the contact is made with Neale's chest and shoulder.

Neale said the contact felt like it was "almost the start of a tackle" and that his fist was not clenched.

Neale said his arm gets wrapped up in Ginnivan's arms like it would in a tackle.

Neale said his right arm and his chest pushes Ginnivan to the ground and that he felt that contribute to Ginnivan moving forwards.

Neale said he called Ginnivan this morning and that the Hawk said he felt it was more of a bump than a strike and that's what caused him to fall to ground.

Mr Woods is showing footage what looks to be shot from space.

Mr Woods is now questioning Neale.

Neale said he agreed that the ball was not near the area or contesting the ball.

Neale said he accepted that he didn't slow down before contact but that he wasn't moving at great speed.

Mr Woods asked if Neale accepts that he swung his left arm. Mr Woods said he believes that he was swinging his arm back to swing forward and strike him. Neale disagreed.

Mr Woods said he doesn't think Ginnivan braced for contact or if he did it was a split second.

Neale said he was aware of the AFL's striking rules in 2026.

Mr Woods asked if Neale knew he was playing in a Preliminary Final. Neale said he did.

AFL Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson is now questioning Neale.

Gleeson asked if Neale made contact with Ginnivan's torso. Neale said it would have only been light contact if he did.

Asked Neale what a body check was. Neale said it is a bit more open body contact than a bump.

Gleeson asked if they usually involve a swinging forearm motion.

Neale said it was a mainly chest, but that the arm does often get involved.

Mr Anderson asked him about his previous record of charges for strikes (none of which have resulted in suspension).

Neale said they were all forms of retaliation from previous strikes.

Neale said all three instances were from tagging instances.

Mr Woods said he will be addressing intentions on whether or not it was a strike.

He is going through the definition of a strike in the AFL's rules.

Mr Woods said if you look at the vision that the forceful swinging of the arm is a very clear strike. Not a bump or body check.

He said the first contact is the extended arm into Ginnivan's torso and that he is driven immediately to ground.

Using the AFL rules, Mr Woods argued that the contact was made away from the play and away from where the football was. Meaning that Neale's actions were consistent with the strike being intentional.

Mr Woods said that intentional strikes have been upgraded to a minimum medium impact which means at least a one-match suspension.

Brisbane is pushing to have the impact downgraded to negligible or low. This would mean the offence would be lowered to a fine.

The AFL guidelines state that the distance from the ball that the incident occurs will play a role in the size of punishment.

The medical report said he required immediate medical attention by a club doctor on the ground.

Mr Woods said the potential of Neale missing his mark with the strike and accidentally making contact with Ginnivan's face deems the action as a risk to cause injury.

Mr Anderson submits that this action is not a strike, and that a careful and close analysis of the vision and what Neale said is that it is not. It is primarily from his chest.

Mr Anderson said does not constitute to a strike. That there is no frame of Neale's fist making contact with Ginnivan's abdomen.

Mr Anderson agreed that he believes Ginnivan did see Neale coming.

Gleeson adds that in Ginnivan's brace, the Hawk seems to raise his leg in a brace as well as his arm.

Mr Anderson said Ginnivan's left arm or elbow is in the way of Neale's arm coming across. Mr Anderson said this is a unique part to this striking case, different from other ones throughout the season.

There have been nine striking cases in 2026, all nine have resulted in suspensions. Two were challenged unsuccessfully at the Tribunal.

Using the vision, Mr Anderson said Neale was correct in his assessment that the first contact Neale made with Ginnivan was with his shoulder and chest.

Gleeson said the fact it looks like Ginnivan doubles over from the contact is consistent with a strike and not a body check.

Mr Anderson said the contact to Ginnivan's back and that Neale was pushing Ginnivan forward contributed to Ginnivan moving "that way".

Mr Anderson said the diving action by Ginnivan after the contact was in search of a free kick.

Mr Anderson said Ginnivan showed no signs of what usually happens when a player is struck the way Ginnivan fell was consistent with Neale pushing him.

Mr Anderson said Ginnivan's fall is an accentuated diving motion.

Gleeson said the AFL's guidelines were brought in to stop incidents of striking off the ball similar to Neale's.

Mr Anderson is comparing how long Ginnivan took to recover from the contact compared to other AFL players from previous striking charges.

Mr Anderson used a case of Scott Pendlebury striking Lachie Neale in 2024 in case of the need for exceptional circumstances if Neale's charge is upheld.

Mr Anderson said he doesn't think Neale should receive special treatment because it is a Grand Final. He said that the vision is inconclusive.

Mr Anderson is indicating that the footage is not clear enough to convict Neale or demonstrate the allegations.

Poor footage comes back to bite the AFL again (score review).

Mr Anderson said if their bid fails, Brisbane will look for exceptional or compelling circumstances which would downgrade the offence to a fine.

Mr Anderson points to Neale's exemplary record of no suspensions across 320 AFL games.

Mr Anderson is now going over Neale's career accolades again.

Gleeson believes there has never been an exceptional and compelling circumstance used for an intentional act.

Gleeson said if Neale is found guilty of the intentional act, then it would be difficult to argue for the ECC.

Mr Anderson argued that there have not been enough cases of ECC to say intentional acts are not allowed as part of the ruling.

Mr Anderson argued the objective seriousness of the act, which at maximum is one week suspension, should come into play.

Mr Anderson said players with a career such as Neale's are entitled to a minor lapse. Even if it is intentional.

Mr Woods is now responding.

Mr Woods argued he never said the word fist in terms of the strike, that he is saying that it is still a strike by the extended arm.

Agrees vision is too blurry.

Mr Woods argues that Ginnivan gets to his feet too quick for him to be milking a free kick.

Argued that Mr Anderson was getting too close to calling Ginnivan's actions as unsportsmanlike behaviour without Ginnivan here to defend himself.

In terms of the ECC...

Mr Woods said Neale has been found guilty of eight offences throughout his career, three include striking.

Mr Woods said Pendlebury's ECC was after his action was careless, whereas Neale's action was deemed as intentional.

The Tribunal is now deliberating...

It has been nearly an hour of deliberating (three hours in total) and still no decision.

Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale's one-week suspension has been upheld, meaning the 33-year-old will miss the Grand Final on Saturday.

Neale's bid to have his suspension removed due to exceptional and compelling circumstances was also unsuccessful.

The Brisbane midfielder has likely played his last game for the Lions and will have to watch the Grand Final from the sidelines.

Thanks for sticking through that 4.5 hour Tribunal hearing with us. Bye for now.