It is shaping up as a huge week for the “Kid from Kyby” Lachie Neale, who on Monday night won his second Brownlow Medal and on Saturday will co-captain the Brisbane Lions in the 2023 AFL grand final.
Neale, 30, became only the 16th player to win dual Brownlow Medals and also made history as the only player to poll 25 votes or above in four Brownlow Medal counts.
Born in Naracoorte, Neale played for Kybybolite in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League before being selected for Glenelg in the SANFL and then being drafted to Fremantle for the 2012 AFL season.
He remained at Fremantle until 2018 before joining Brisbane for the 2019 season.
Neale is a three-time All-Australian and has won five best-and fairest awards (two at Fremantle and three at Brisbane) and first won the Brownlow Medal in 2020.
The result went down to the wire on Monday evening, with Neale sitting third in the count on 25 votes behind Collingwood young-gun Nick Daicos (28) and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca (26) at the conclusion of round 22.
However, Daicos was injured and unable to play any more home and away matches, with Neale catching him on 28 votes in round 23 and again polling three votes in round 24 to hold off a charge by the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli (29) to finish with 31 votes.
Robe’s Jordan Dawson, now captain of the Adelaide Crows, polled strongly to finish with 20 voters.
Much-loved Dartmoor prodigy Jeremy Cameron, now one of Geelong’s favourite sons, finished with 13.
Cameron kept his social media followers entertained during the count, posting selfies, with one labelled “could win this”, quickly followed by another of Cameron with rolled eyes stating “sorry forgot I’m a forward”.
Speaking after the win, Neale said he was shocked to win.
“It does not sit very well at the moment, I’m sure it will sink in at a later date, I’m pretty rattled to be honest,” he said.
“I did not expect this, to be amongst some of those names that have won two is unbelievable.
“To be in Brisbane preparing for a grand final is amazing and so I’m so excited for what is to come this week, not only Saturday but the build up to the game and I have not been involved in this week for a decade so I’m excited.”
AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder paid tribute to Neale, describing him as a humble player and true champion of the game, saying he “got a feel for the game” in the South East of SA with the Kybybolite Tigers.
“There’s no doubt that some of the fondest memories of all our players tonight are from their junior football, and on behalf of the AFL Commission can I thank all those junior football clubs around the country for the work they do to bring our young boys and girls through playing footy,” he said.
Monday night’s Brownlow win kicked off a huge week for Neale, who on Saturday will join fellow South East player Lincoln McCarthy to run out onto the hallowed turf of the MCG.
The Lions co-captain and forward McCarthy will play for the premiership cup on Saturday, with both having their roots firmly in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara.
McCarthy played for Bordertown before also heading to Glenelg in the SANFL and then into Geelong’s AFL ranks.
His AFL career was revived in Brisbane in 2019, when he played every game of the season after an injury-ravaged seven-year career at Geelong, where he only managed 29 games.
McCarthy, standing at just 176cm, is incredibly agile, speedy and athletic in the forward line and is well respected for his pressure.
He can also take some of the best speccys in the business.
