Lachie Neale and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon shared an “informal” dinner conversation as the Brisbane Lions star weighs his future after his marriage breakdown left his two children based in Western Australia. St Kilda’s door is open, while Collingwood remains th
A dinner conversation that started as a catch-up has become a fresh lever in the already volatile Lachie Neale future saga.
Lachie Neale. 33. sat down with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon. with the chat reportedly covering far more than small talk as the Lions midfielder continues to be linked with a possible move. St Kilda General Manager Lenny Hayes confirmed the encounter, describing it as “pretty informal” and saying it “went well.”.
Hayes said Lyon and Neale have a strong relationship dating back to their time together at Fremantle. and that the invitation came after their long-running contact. “Yeah, we caught up with Lachie and it was pretty informal,” Hayes told 3AW. “Obviously Ross has got a great relationship with Lachie [from their time together at Fremantle] and has for a number of years and catches up with him quite regularly and it was nice to get the invite.”.
He added that the conversation ranged across a casual mix of where Neale is at personally and where St Kilda believes it is positioned. “It went well.” Hayes said the pair discussed “a wide range of topics. ” including where Neale is at with things and where St Kilda “think we are at. ” and they also spoke about “the game more broadly.”.
For Neale. the timing of that catch-up lands against a backdrop of disruption that has played out in public since his marriage to popular footy WAG Jules broke down over the summer. Jules took their two children and moved back to Western Australia. leaving Neale’s personal situation at the centre of the conversation around his playing future.
His future itself has been the subject of speculation since the split, with rumours suggesting he wants to leave Brisbane and move closer to family.
In January 2026, Neale stepped down as Brisbane co-captain following the separation. Late last week, he then poured more uncertainty into the process when he said every aspect of his future is being considered before he makes a final call.
“I’ve just got to weigh everything … success, finance, everything that goes along with playing footy. I’m 33 – probably don’t have that long left. so yeah. just weighing it all up. ” Neale said on Fox Footy. “I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s 100 per cent the truth – I’m not sure what I’ll decide.”.
Brisbane is still pushing to keep him, but the scale of interest being discussed suggests Neale could face an intense decision-making period. One report suggests there could be up to six clubs chasing him for next season, including his current club.
Collingwood is still described as the frontrunner if Neale decides to return to Victoria. Richmond and Essendon are also said to have expressed interest. but have fallen behind the Pies and Saints in the race if he chooses a Melbourne club. Beyond Victoria, Adelaide and Neale’s former club Fremantle in Western Australia are also considered strong contenders.
That wider market sits alongside Hayes’s point that Neale and Lyon’s chat was casual in nature—an important detail when every word from Neale’s personal life has already been pulled into the public spotlight. “It’s a bit of a shame that it is out in the public domain but times have changed. ” Hayes said.
What the dinner appears to underline is simple: as Neale weighs success, finance and the reality of his age, clubs are working to turn personal familiarity—Lyon’s relationship with him from Fremantle—into a real option as the future remains completely up in the air.
Lachie Neale Ross Lyon St Kilda Brisbane Lions 2026 AFL Jules Neale Fremantle Collingwood Richmond Essendon Adelaide AFL transfer rumours
So basically dinner = contract now? Lol
I don’t even care about football drama, but if his marriage broke down and his kids moved, how is any of this “went well”?? Seems kinda tone deaf.
Isn’t this the part where St Kilda steals him and Collingwood is mad? Like I swear I heard Collingwood’s name in like every rumor. Dinner doesn’t mean anything though unless Ross Lyon has already signed the paperwork or something.
Wait his kids are in Western Australia now, right? So he’s gonna move over there for them or move to St Kilda? The article makes it sound like the door is open but then says he’s linked with a move like it’s all about far more than small talk… which could just be PR talk too.