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Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale says ‘It’s always nice to beat the Eagles’ after West Coast send half a team

Marco MonteverdeNCA NewsWire
Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale had a cheeky did at the struggling Eagles.
Camera IconBrisbane midfielder Lachie Neale had a cheeky did at the struggling Eagles. Credit: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

Brisbane Lions star and former Fremantle Docker Lachie Neale is feeling little sympathy for the struggling West Coast Eagles ahead of their visit to the Gabba on Saturday night.

The Eagles, who were AFL premiers as recently as 2018, are rock bottom on the AFL ladder, having lost six from seven matches this season.

They head to Brisbane low on confidence after copping a 109-point thrashing from Richmond last week.

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However, Neale was on the wrong end of too many Western Derby defeats during his time with Fremantle to be feeling sorry for the Eagles.

“It’s always nice to beat the Eagles,” Neale said.

“I went through a pretty rough patch towards the end of my Freo career when we lost to them a lot of times, so it’s been nice to beat them a couple times (with the Lions) and hopefully that continues – it’s nice.”

Not that the Lions – who in contrast to West Coast’s start have won six from seven to be sitting in second place on the ladder – will take victory over the Eagles for granted.

“There’s still around 10 premiership players in that team – that’s a lot of talent,” Neale said.

“They still know how to win. They obviously haven’t had a great few weeks, but this club as well understands how quickly that can turn around, especially on a (trip). Teams really galvanise and try to get up for those travel games.

“We certainly do at times, especially if we’ve lost a couple and feel under the pump.

“We’ve got to prepare for their best because their best is really good.”

As is the Lions’ and Neale’s “best”.

The 2020 Brownlow Medal winner was superb in Brisbane’s 24-point win over the Swans at the SCG last Sunday, particularly in the third quarter after a Lance Franklin-inspired Sydney kicked five straight goals to storm back into the contest.

“It was just playing my role – I didn’t try to do anything special,” the 28-year-old midfielder said.

“I did sense that we were under the pump. They kicked five goals really quickly, so I tried to lift a little bit, but the structure and teammates around me allowed me to play that role to get after the footy and try to win it for our team and get the ball going forward our way.”

With fellow Lions star Joe Daniher to miss at least a month of football with a shoulder injury, Neale said he had “full faith” in whoever replaced the former Essendon forward.

“It’s unfortunate for Joe, he’s been in such good form, (but) at least it’s short to medium term rather than a long-term injury,” he said.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale keen to add to West Coast’s miserable season

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