St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has confirmed he will have dinner with Brisbane Lions midfielder Lachie Neale on Friday night, describing the meeting as due diligence amid rampant speculation about Neale's AFL future. Lyon, who coached Neale at Fremantle, said the dinner was a regular catch-up but acknowledged it would be remiss of St Kilda not to inquire about Neale's plans.
Dinner details and context
The dinner was revealed by 7NEWS AFL reporter Mitch Cleary this week, with Neale in Geelong for Thursday night's match against the Cats. Lyon downplayed the significance, saying the dinner had been blown out of proportion. "It's the normal dinner, with both people window shopping. There's certainly no strong agenda from either side," Lyon said on Thursday morning.
Lyon expressed disappointment that the news could distract Brisbane before their game. "Our dinners tend to remain confidential. I know Lachie and I didn't talk about it, so that talks to other people with less integrity," he said. He also denied a suggestion that young Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera would attend to help woo Neale, calling it a "red herring."
Due diligence and Neale's future
Lyon stressed that the dinner was simply part of normal club due diligence. "There's due diligence, to try to get better and that's all it is here," he said. "It could be on the club card if we talk footy, but they run a pretty tight ship here. It could be McDonald's."
Despite the meeting, Lyon doubts Neale will leave Brisbane when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Neale's playing future has been complicated by the end of his marriage, with his children now living in Perth. "I wouldn't have thought he's leaving Brisbane and I still don't think that's guaranteed," Lyon said. "But if Collingwood and Essendon and everyone are talking to Lachie, I think I can slip in between entree and main — 'what are you thinking about doing with your life in footy?'"
Lyon's thoughts on Neale's impact
Lyon acknowledged the tumultuous period for Neale but reiterated the dinner was a friendship catch-up turned into a "circus." He even mused about Neale joining St Kilda's midfield, saying, "Throw Lachie Neale in, it would look alright ... icing on the cake."
Saints injury updates
Lyon also provided injury updates on several St Kilda players. Co-captain Jack Sinclair will miss the rest of the season with a severe calf injury. Tom De Koning is three to four weeks away from returning from fractured ribs. Rowan Marshall (shoulder) is likely to play on Sunday against Essendon, and Matteas Phillipou should return. Key forward Max King is back in full training after missing the 2024 season due to injury. "We love Max and he's getting closer to a return, doing full sessions. He looks a million bucks - the Gold Coast was a real circuit breaker," Lyon said of King's trip north. "He's in as good a place as he's been for a long time and we are too. We'll drive forward with that and keep our fingers crossed."
