But AFL journalist Jon Ralph<\/a> has now revealed the Pies are in the box seat to land Neale on a three-year deal worth $3 million over three seasons.<\/p>\n And Matthews, who coached Brisbane and Collingwood, has warned the Lions of the impact Neale\u2019s pending departure could have on the club.<\/p>\n \u201cPlayers are playing into their mid 30s these days, and Lachie Neale\u2019s playing as well as he\u2019s ever played, so I don\u2019t think you\u2019d worry about the age too much to offer him a three-year contract,\u201d Matthews said on Kayo Sports\u2019 On The Couch<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not quite sure where the Lions sit in the ability to offer him a two or three-year contract, but his form has been great, but the public narrative that Lachie might be leaving and Zac Bailey might be leaving is diabolical for your team spirit I think.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely you\u2019d keep him. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any point about him getting pushed out of the Lions, so forget about that one.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only a question whether a Collingwood comes in with a much bigger offer, and I don\u2019t know, maybe he wants to play at the MCG and Anzac Day games, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cBut all I\u2019m saying is I know it\u2019s modern footy, but it\u2019s a bad narrative if it hits your club that there\u2019s this public debate mid-season, or that these blokes are probably going as Ralphy is actually alluding to.\u201d<\/p>\n Some believe Neale will be tempted to stay by the thought of winning a third premiership with the Lions.<\/p>\n But Matthews feels that is not necessarily a motivating factor for the Brisbane star.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI think there\u2019s an element once you\u2019ve played in a premiership team, so okay, I\u2019ve got my premiership and Lachie\u2019s got two, that therefore staying where I want to win another premiership is slightly less a priority for some players who\u2019ve never played in a premiership win.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s a reasonable scenario to balance as on average.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Lachie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/e8f29a0162d50180a5e03b38b4d7c5df.jpeg\")
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