Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL Briefing:
- Saints coach Ross Lyon has declared that Lachie Neale is not in their sights after meeting with him.
- Collingwood’s Jack Crisp faces a nervous wait to see if his record games streak will continue.
Saints no longer in the race for Neale
Scott Spits
St Kilda are no longer in the market for Brisbane Lions premiership star Lachie Neale.
Saints coach Ross Lyon, who coached Neale during the formative stages of his career at Fremantle, met with him in Melbourne, but declared on Saturday that the Lions champion, who is considering his future, is not in their sights.
“I’ve spoken to Lachie this weekend. We’re officially out of the Lachie Neale race,” Lyon told 3AW before the club’s match against Port Adelaide.
“Not because we don’t value him and he wouldn’t be incredible. We’re just not in a position to do it with our young midfield and what we’re trying to do and commit and sign.
“So Lachie knows that. Tom Petroro, Lachie’s manager, knows that.”
The next home for two-time Brownlow Medal winner Neale is one of the biggest questions to be answered this year.
Neale, 33, has had another stellar season with the Lions and he remains a key player as they build their assault for a third straight AFL premiership.
A tumultuous off-season led to the break-up of his marriage, and his wife Jules and their two young children, Piper and Freddie, moved back to Perth. Amid the turmoil at the start of the year, Neale stood down as Lions co-captain.
Collingwood also maintain they remain a potential new home for the two-time Lions flag hero.
Coach Craig McRae has spoken with the unrestricted free agent, who is also weighing up whether to stay in Brisbane.
“Until any free agent is signed, I have said this for a number of weeks, we have a strategic plan looking at who is available. We will just keep that hat in the ring, and see how we go with that,” McRae said this week.
Crisp’s wait over tackle that could end games streak
Andrew Wu
Jack Crisp faces a nervous wait to see if his record games streak will continue, but there’s hope he may avoid suspension for a tackle that left a North Melbourne opponent concussed.
Collingwood defender Billy Frampton is also sweating over the findings of the match review officer for a dangerous tackle that has him in danger of missing the Pies’ blockbuster against the resurgent Carlton next week.
Crisp is under the scrutiny after a tackle that left Kangaroos newcomer Tom Blamires concussed in the Pies’ four-point win on Friday night. If suspended, it would snap his record games streak at 279 – 35 more matches than the previous record held by the late Melbourne great Jimmy Stynes.
In another notable case this season, North small forward Paul Curtis was banned for three games for a tackle that left West Coast’s Hamish Davis with concussion.
Crisp’s case is different to Curtis’s in that he does not pin Blamires’ arms, thereby allowing his opponent to brace for a fall. Blamires, though, did not take this protective action.
For Crisp to be suspended, the MRO would need to find Blamires was slung to the ground with excessive force or was in a vulnerable position with an arm pinned and unable to protect himself.
Pies coach Craig McRae said he had not seen the incident but recognised there could be a case for his player to answer given Blamires’ injury.
“If he’s tackled him and he’s been concussed, obviously there’s something to answer for,” McRae said.
“But that’ll be disappointing.
“I thought Jack had a great game. Critical moments.
“It’ll be a big loss, and he hasn’t missed a game for so long – he’ll be shattered.
“That’s a record that’s his for a long time.”
Frampton is under the microscope over a tackle on North’s Matt Whitlock late in the final quarter that was ruled dangerous by the umpire.
Frampton appeared to roll Whitlock to the side but did not let go. Whitlock played out the closing minutes of the game though a medical report from North may determine if Frampton is suspended or escapes with a fine should he be cited.
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