“Our job as a footy club… is to just wrap our arms around him and his family and help them where we can. Outside of that, it is a private issue. That is where we stand with it.”
Fagan said the ramifications of the breakdown for Neale’s football career would become clearer as the year progressed, and the Lions would support whatever decision Neale made – whether it meant returning to Perth, or remaining in Brisbane.
The two Perth-based clubs, West Coast and Fremantle, would be certain to entertain the idea of recruiting Neale, who played with the Dockers before joining the Lions, if he indicated a desire to change clubs.
Fagan said no one knew whether such a move would eventuate.
“I don’t know the answer to that, either,” Fagan said when asked about a potential move at season’s end.
“I hope he does [remain with the Lions] but he is an unrestricted free agent … so he can make a call on what he needs to do, and he probably needs the next six or seven months to see what the next right step is.
Neale and Fagan at the 2024 grand final paradeCredit: AFL Photos
“As I say, I hope he stays and plays with us, but if he chooses to move back to Perth because he needs to be close to his children, then he will do that with our blessing.
“We are not going to hold anyone to ransom – we will just go along with the flow on that.”
Fagan said he expected Neale to have another good season, despite the personal issues surrounding him.
“Lachie is a bloke who can zone in on what he is doing,” Fagan said.
Fagan revealed that new faces would join the club’s leadership group, with veteran Charlie Cameron also stepping away to focus on his footy, while Oscar McInerney (retired) and Brandon Starcevich (moving to West Coast) creating vacancies, too.
The Lions will go through their normal process for appointing captains in February, with Fagan uncertain whether Harris Andrews would continue as a solo captain or perhaps be joined by either Hugh McCluggage or Josh Dunkley in the role.
The Lions’ list is in good shape, physically, as they prepare to have a tilt at a third successive premiership.
“This group knows what it feels like to win a premiership,” Fagan said. “We will keep searching around for themes to motivate [the group].”
Saints great Hayes appointed St Kilda’s new football manager
St Kilda have appointed fan favourite Lenny Hayes as their new football manager while Saints coach Ross Lyon will oversee coaching and list management in an updated structure for 2026 after David Misson left the role at the end of last season.
Saints great Hayes played 297 games for the club and was a key player during Lyon’s first stint as coach from 2007 to 2011. Hayes won the Norm Smith Medal for his lion-hearted performance in the 2010 tied grand final against Collingwood and is a respected football person. After calling time on his playing career he worked at the AFL and as an assistant at the Giants, before returning to the Saints just before Lyon was again appointed coach in October 2022.
Ross Lyon with newly appointed St Kilda football manager Lenny Hayes, a champion of the club.Credit: AFL Photos
Hayes had been keen to transition into a football administration role during his time at the Giants, and his new role will be critical as the Saints attempt to push up the ladder and into contention after a recruiting and signing spree in 2025.
Saints executive Chris Ford, who has been in an interim football operations role, will also remain in the football program to lend support and work on football strategy and special projects.
“Having spent more than half my life working inside football programs, I am really excited to step into this role,” Hayes said.
“I am looking forward to working closely with Carl [CEO Carl Dilena] and Ross and doing everything I can to help maintain a high-performance environment.
“Football programs are only as strong as the people within them, so my focus will be on ensuring our staff, and in turn our players, are in the best position to succeed on and off the field.”