Lachie Neale’s commitment has been questioned as AFL pundit Kane Cornes accused the star midfielder of not being “all-in” on the Lions’ quest for a three-peat.

Neale has been the talk of the footy world for the entirety of 2026, from his highly publicised and messy marriage breakdown to his future in the AFL.

But despite the numerous off-field distractions, the midfielder has been one of the league’s best this season.

That was until Saturday, when he looked out of sorts, managing just 18 disposals (his second-lowest of the season), just two clearances and six contested possessions in Brisbane’s qualifying final loss to the undermanned Swans.

Meanwhile, according to Channel 7’s Xander McGuire last week he reportedly rang Collingwood to see what jersey numbers are available as he edges closer to putting pen to paper on a deal to join the Pies as a free agent from next season.

That came after he created headlines for touring the Magpies facility a day before a game last month.

And Cornes feels Neale’s behaviour shows he’s not all-in at the Lions and is more focused on what his future holds than trying to help Brisbane win a third straight flag.

“You have to say no (he’s not all-in),” Cornes said on The Agenda Setters on Monday night.

“Here are his numbers from the week, and you can have a bad game. I get it. But we were there on Thursday night, and we saw a team that was fully committed, who were all in.

“The Hawks. And they were prepared to physically sacrifice for their team, their teammates, their coach, their club, their supporters, in the thought that they may be able to cause a huge upset and put themselves in the box seat to win a premiership.

“Lachie’s not doing that. Lachie’s touring Collingwood the day before a game during the year. Lachie, during the week, is ringing Collingwood, trying to work out what number he’s going to wear at the Pies next year.”

But Caroline Wilson pointed out that Neale’s on-field form had not seemingly been affected by his off-field dramas until last weekend.

“Up until the weekend, (Neale) hasn’t seemed to give a toss about what’s going on,” Wilson said.

It comes as Neale’s personal life was again dragged back into the public forum after his ex Jules Neale and Tess Crosley went on separate podcasts to give tell-all interviews.

All the while Neale has been pictured both in the sheds and out and about with his new girlfriend Emma Field. And the public nature of their budding romance, Nick Riewoldt believes, is another unneeded distraction.

“It has to be (a distraction),” Riewoldt said about the ongoing news connected to Neale’s personal life.

“You’re three weeks away from the end of your Brisbane Lions career, and there’s an opportunity to end it on the highest of all highs.

“So rare air if they’re able to go three in a row. And it has become a bit of a travelling circus when it concerns Lachie Neale.”

“This is distracting. It’s unusual, and it’s tabloid fodder, and we understand that,” Cornes added.

The Lions take on Adelaide in a do-or-die elimination clash on Saturday night.

Originally published as ‘Not all in’: Lachie Neale called out for off-field distractions after the Lions’ push for a three-peat took huge blow