Lions confirm they will appeal Neale's grand final ban

Lachie Neale, a Brownlow medallist and key player for the Brisbane Lions, faces a one-match ban after striking Jack Ginnivan from Hawthorn during their preliminary final on September 26th, which could prevent him from playing in the upcoming AFL grand final against Fremantle. The incident occurred in the first quarter of the match at the MCG and was captured by goal camera footage. Neale’s team plans to challenge the ban at a tribunal hearing scheduled for Tuesday evening, arguing that his extensive career without suspension and his exceptional on-field contributions make him an ideal candidate to play despite the charge. However, recent reports suggest new vision from Champion Data's optical tracking trial involving 46 cameras may show clearer evidence of the strike, potentially complicating Neale’s case and reducing the Lions' chances of overturning the ban.