Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage is "disappointed" teammate Lachie Neale's one-match ban was upheld at Tuesday's monster Tribunal hearing, meaning he'll miss Saturday's Grand Final against Fremantle.

After taking nearly five hours, the Tribunal deemed Neale guilty of striking Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan in the thrilling preliminary final win last weekend.

The Lions can take the upheld decision to the AFL Appeals Board in a bid to exonerate the two-time Brownlow Medallist on the following grounds:

  • An error of law that had a material impact on the decision of the Tribunal has occurred
  • The decision of the Tribunal is so unreasonable that no Tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it;
  • The classification of the offence by the Tribunal was manifestly excessive or inadequate;
  • The sanction imposed by the Tribunal was manifestly excessive or inadequate
Contracts talks for Brisbane 'pre-agent' to get underway
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Hugh McCluggage of the Lions celebrates kicking a goal during the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between Collingwood Magpies and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 30, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

"I fell asleep before the verdict was handed down. So I woke up to the news this morning. Yeah, disappointed," McCluggage said on SEN.

"I mean, Lachie the teammate of ours, and we really want him to be out there. So I'm sure the club will explore all the options they have, and we'll see how it plays out."

But as it stands, Neale's ban stands and plans for how Brisbane will attack the void left by the star midfielder have already begun.

McCluggage said he'd step up to play more inside midfield minutes if Neale's ban carries through to Saturday, which is a role he's accustomed to.

"I'd say I would spend a little bit more time in there if he doesn't play, which I'm completely used to," he said.

"I mean, last year I played a lot more inside, and this year the way that Zac Bailey and Will (Ashcroft) are going in there, I've been on a wing since I've come back. If he doesn't play, I'd say I'll play maybe a little bit more time inside.

"But we also prepare differently for different teams. We did our opposition preview yesterday, but we'll catch up with (Cameron Bruce) Brucey, our midfield coach, later on in the week, and see what the centre bounce rotations look like, and who's going to be in there, depending on whether Lachie is in there as well or not."

JOIN THE DISCUSSION