AFL grand final: Lachie Neale named to face Geelong in grand final

Brisbane has committed to one of the biggest selection calls in AFL history by naming co-captain Lachie Neale for the grand final clash against Geelong only 22 days after he tore his calf.

Neale, 32, has made the remarkable return despite initially being sidelined for the remainder of the season, proving his fitness at during an intense main training session at Ikon Park on Thursday morning.

The dual Brownlow medallist has been named in the centre, coming into the team for Jarrod Berry who will miss the decider after he dislocated his shoulder for a second time this year late in their preliminary final win over Collingwood.

Neale tore his calf in the qualifying final loss to the Cats at the start of the month, but has completed a modern-day football miracle to be back in time for this year’s decider.

It will be the co-captain’s fourth decider having been the sub for Fremantle in 2013, while also playing in the past two for the Lions.

Geelong have also been forced to make a change with Tom Stewart to miss because of a concussion he sustained in the preliminary final victory over Hawthorn on Friday night.

It has opened the door for fringe ruckman Rhys Stanley to return after he missed the Cats’ first two finals because of a hamstring injury.

Stanley, 34, has trained strongly after he sustained in the injury in the lead up to the qualifying final and has been passed fit to play.

Defender Jack Henry is also named despite battling an ankle injury last weekend, while West Australian Jack Martin is also taking his place despite copping a corked calf.

Geelong have an incredibly small injury list for this time of the year with only Stewart, Jake Kolodjashnij (hip) and Toby Conway (foot) unavailable for the decider.

Stanley is already a premiership ruckman, having played in 2022 and is one of only 12 players from that side to feature this weekend despite it being only 36 months ago.

Brisbane are also set to take midfielder pair Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley into the clash despite both battling minor injuries to their ankle and knee respectively.

Dunkley did not train fully and returned to Brisbane last weekend in a moonboot but was never in doubt to miss, while McCluggage’s left knee has been heavily strapped for some time.

West Australian James Tunstill have been named as emergencies for the Lions alongside former Gold Coast forward Sam Day and Darragh Joyce

Retiring Geelong champion Mitch Duncan didn’t get a recall as expected, having played in the 2011 and 2022 flags for the Cats among his 305 game career.

AFL 2025 GRAND FINAL TEAMS

GEELONG v BRISBANE

Saturday, MCG, 12.30pm

CATS

B: C O’Sullivan S De Koning J Henry

HB: M O’Connor Z Guthrie L Humphries

C: G Miers M Holmes O Dempsey

HF: B Close S Mannagh T Stengle

F: S Neale J Cameron P Dangerfield

FOLL: R Stanley B Smith T Atkins

I/C: M Blicavs J Martin O Mullin J Clark J Bowes

EMG: J Bews M Knevitt O Henry

IN: R Stanley

OUT: T Stewart (concussion)

LIONS

B: D Zorko D Gardiner R Lester

HB: D Wilmot H Andrews B Starcevich

C: H McCluggage L Neale L Ashcroft

HF: C Cameron T Gallop Z Bailey

F: C Rayner L Morris C Ah Chee

FOLL: D Fort J Dunkley W Ashcroft

I/C: K Lohmann J Fletcher S Marshall B Reville O McInerney

EMG: S Day J Tunstill D Joyce

IN: L Neale

OUT: J Berry (shoulder)