Lachie Neale had plenty to smile about with new girlfriend Emma Field by his side on Friday, before Fremantle fans delivered a much frostier reception at the AFL grand final parade.
The Brisbane star enjoyed a relaxed brunch date with Field in Melbourne after winning his appeal against a one-match suspension that threatened to end his premiership dream.
With his place in Saturday’s decider secured, the two-time Brownlow medallist laughed and chatted with his partner during a break from the grand final build-up.
The couple headed to a nearby cafe and sat outside, where Neale tucked into a burger before they walked back to the team hotel.
Neale planted a kiss on Field’s head along the way, with the pair continuing to smile and chat before he stopped to sign autographs for waiting fans.
The midfielder, 33, wore a loose white T-shirt, beige trousers, dark shoes and a white cap, carrying a bottled drink.
Lachie Neale and girlfriend Emma Field enjoyed a Melbourne brunch date before Friday’s AFL grand final parade
Neale and Field walked together before the Brisbane star joined his teammates for the grand final parade
The couple laughed and chatted after Neale’s successful appeal cleared him to play in Saturday’s grand final
Field paired a white cropped top with matching wide-leg trousers and sandals, wearing her long brown hair loose and completing her outfit with sunglasses.
In one affectionate moment, she rested a hand on Neale’s arm as they stood together.
Their outing came two days after they were photographed holding hands during a coffee date in Brisbane, when his grand final hopes were still hanging in the balance.
By Friday, that uncertainty had lifted. But the controversy followed him to the parade.
Fremantle supporters booed and heckled Neale as he travelled through Melbourne’s sporting precinct alongside teammate Ty Gallop.
The jeers were also heard during his interview with Lions great Alastair Lynch, with Dockers fans outnumbering Brisbane supporters along the route.
Asked whether he had feared he was in trouble during the week, Neale gave a frank response.
‘Most of the week, really. You’re never really sure how these things are going to go. Very happy that it’s gone my way.’
Neale later faced boos from Fremantle supporters after his one-match suspension for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan was overturned on appeal
Emma wore a white cropped top and wide-leg trousers, completing her outfit with sunglasses and sandals
Neale wore a white T-shirt, beige trousers and a white cap as he stepped out with his girlfriend
Their Melbourne outing followed a Brisbane coffee date earlier in the week, while Neale’s suspension remained unresolved
The two-time Brownlow medallist credited the people around him with helping him through a turbulent grand final week
Neale had initially been handed a one-match suspension for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan during their preliminary final.
The tribunal upheld the penalty on Tuesday after a hearing lasting four-and-a-half hours, before Brisbane successfully appealed on Thursday.
Speaking on Friday, Neale credited those closest to him with helping him through the uncertainty.
‘I’ve been okay. I’ve got great people around me that keep things pretty normal, other than having to attend a couple of tribunal hearings. Just glad I’m able to play tomorrow,’ he told Fox Footy.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan admitted he had been preparing for the biggest game of the season without his champion midfielder.
‘It was good for Lachie, good for footy I reckon. But we were pretty much ready for him not to be playing, I must admit.’
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir had taken the opposite approach.
‘But he’s in their best team, so we prepared for Brisbane’s best.’
For Neale, another turbulent grand final week was familiar territory.
He battled a foot problem ahead of the 2024 decider against Sydney and tore his plantar fascia during the final quarter.
Last year, a calf injury threatened his place against Geelong before he came on as the substitute and helped Brisbane surge to another premiership.
‘These things tend to arise late in the year with injury and this one’s obviously a bit different with suspension. I feel like I’m well equipped to deal with it and perform tomorrow,’ he said.
This time, Neale described his physical condition as ‘probably the best I’ve felt body-wise going into a Grand Final in the four I’ve played’.
Saturday’s clash with his former club could also be his Brisbane farewell, with Neale bound for Collingwood next year.
First, he has a third consecutive Lions premiership in his sights.
‘We’ve shown in previous finals, this year and in the last couple of years that we’re never out of it – and we truly believe it in every situation,’ Neale said.
‘We’ll draw on those experiences tomorrow for sure.’
