Brisbane is expected to focus on Lachie Neale’s exemplary record, rather than the nature of his strike on Hawk Jack Ginnivan, when it launches its last-ditch bid to free the star midfielder for Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.

The Lions on Wednesday confirmed they would challenge the tribunal’s decision to uphold Neale’s one-week striking ban at the AFL Appeal Board, with a hearing scheduled for 4pm (AEST) on Thursday. Scroll down to follow the hearing live!

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Brisbane has four possible grounds at the hearing, but will almost certainly hone in on Neale’s one-week sanction being “manifestly excessive” due to the dual Brownlow Medallist’s previously flawless record with the MRO and tribunal across 320 AFL games.

It comes as SEN journalist Sam Edmund reported fresh vision of Neale’s clash with Ginnivan had emerged – footage he said “hurts, rather than helps, Neale’s chances”.

The only footage of Neale’s incident with Ginnivan shown during Tuesday’s tribunal hearing came via a wide behind-the-goal camera, resulting in grainy vision.

But the new camera angle – which cannot be shown at Thursday’s hearing because it is considered new evidence – still paints a “clearer picture of Neale’s swinging arm”, according to Edmund.

Lyon & Whateley divided on Neale | 10:57

As a result, the Lions are unlikely to challenge the ‘intentional conduct’ aspect of the charge.

Instead, the Lions are expected to again cite the “exceptional and compelling circumstances” clause in the AFL’s laws, which may arise where a player has an exemplary record.

Collingwood used the clause in March to have club champion Scott Pendlebury’s one-week ban for rough conduct against Adelaide’s Josh Worrell downgraded to a $3000 fine. Pendlebury had never previously been suspended in his 21-year AFL career.

But the tribunal, when delivering its reasons for the Neale decision on Tuesday night, suggested the player’s outstanding record did “not render a one-match suspension for that act inappropriate or unreasonable”.

CODE Sports reporter Lauren Wood stressed on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Wednesday night that Thursday’s hearing would “not (be) a hearing that will present new evidence”, adding: “It will essentially address everything that was covered (on Tuesday) night over with a fine-tooth comb.”

The hearing will also be under the leadership of interim Appeal Board chair – and former Hawk – Richard Loveridge, who in May took over from Will Houghton KC after the latter’s comments during the Lance Collard case led to his dismissal.

Neale suspension UPHELD | 01:21

A veteran lawyer in private practice, Loveridge has also served on the AFL Tribunal and Appeal Board since 1999.

But CODE Sports reporter Glenn McFarlane also pointed out on Wednesday that Loveridge played in Hawthorn’s 1983 and 1986 premiership victories, as well as the losing Grand Finals against Essendon in 1984 and 1985, before he “endured heartache in 1987”.

“He knows a little bit about Grand Finals,” McFarlane told Midweek Tackle. “He knows about winning Grand Finals, he knows about losing Grand Finals. He also knows about missing Grand Finals, which I reckon is really interesting going into this case.

“He played in the preliminary final and was dropped (for the 1987 Grand Final) for Andy Collins … They didn’t win that game, Hawthorn, but he had to sit back and watch a Grand Final. He played 23 games that year as well, so (he) wasn’t in and out.

“It’s very much a legal case, but there’s an emotional side to this as well.

“No one is better judged in terms of that in Richard Loveridge … He’s a very good operator, we’d doubt he would do that (his past Grand Final experiences play on his mind). But it is just fascinating to think he’s the man that’s going to be front and centre in this decision.”

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