Lachie Neale set to return after Brisbane books its place in AFL grand final with epic preliminary win

Neale strained his calf when the Cats downed the Lions only a fortnight ago but has done everything in his power and revealed he had been passed fit by club medicos on Saturday.

The dual Brownlow Medallist told this masthead that he had passed a rigorous fitness test on Saturday morning, describing it as the hardest training session he had ever done.

Lions premiership hero Jarrod Berry’s shoulder popped out its socket for the second time in three games and, while he said he hoped to strap it up and play, there are severe doubts about his availability.

Neale would be the perfect replacement, even though his 22-day return timeline is vastly ahead of the initial 4-6 week diagnosis for a qualifying final calf injury.

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“I trained this morning and I think I ticked everything off that I needed to,” Neale said.

“It was probably one of the hardest sessions I’ve ever done and got through it fine.

“So, yeah, I believe I probably should confer with the doctor, but I believe I’ve been given the all clear.

“I think I just train as normal next week and it’s up to ‘Fages’ (Chris Fagan). It was probably between 8km-10km, we had the GPS and the (smart) watch and it was just a lot of repeat efforts, stoppages, ground balls. Exploding out and driving back. A lot of the stuff that tests out the calf and it’s pulled up really well.

“And hopefully it pulls up well tomorrow and then maybe run Monday or Tuesday and then train with the boys and see how I go.”

After booking his place in a third consecutive grand final, Fagan said the chances of Neale returning are now “more positive than negative”.

“He’s doing a lot of work and he had a really good training session this morning,” the Brisbane coach said.

“We’ll just have to wait and see how he gets through the week, it won’t be long before we’re back down here.

“We’ll see how he goes; I didn’t think he’d be a chance to play but I think he is a chance to play.

Neale admitted he was stunned by his recovery given the club’s medicos had been pessimistic about him having any chance to return given his results after the qualifying final calf tear.

“I spoke to the physio in the Uber on the way back from the session this morning and I said what did you honestly think my chances were when you first saw the scan with my functioning and he said, “Maybe one per cent”.

“I would be kicking myself if I didn’t give myself every opportunity and I feel like I have put the work in and not only me but the team around me have done an amazing job to set up a program that gives me a chance.”

He said the club’s spate of long-term injuries had been a massive challenge but it was a testament to the club’s depth and young kids that it had endured to qualify for a third successive Grand Final.

“I think ‘Fages’ calls us cockroaches. We just never die and that’s the thing I love about the club,” he said.

“We have some pretty sad stories. I am not sure about Jarrod Berry, but hopefully he gets up. He has obviously dislocated it a couple of times so maybe they might be able to sort him out and hopefully he’s right to go next week but we have injuries and guys just come in and often it’s the young guys and we can’t get them out of this team because they are playing so well.”

Back to back? Kings of the jungle book chance to defend title

– Tyler Lewis

The emerging Ty Gallop and his Brisbane teammates knew as soon as it sailed through.

Gallop’s contested mark and straight set shot late in the fourth quarter was more than a career best tally.

It was the straw which broke Collingwood’s back and confirmation the kings of the jungle had booked a chance at defending their title.

The final score line reads a one-sided affair but it was anything but that nor a regulation preliminary final.

This was the competition’s two reigning premiers in a heavyweight bout on the grandest stage.

Blow by blow, they handed haymakers for the best part of three quarters.

Brisbane, amid its wounds, eventually pushed away from Collingwood through run and dare through the middle of the ground.

The Lions led in every statistic, most notably clearance and possession, on their way to yet another famous finals victory.

It wasn’t the perfect night for Chris Fagan’s men however, with Jarrod Berry going down with a shoulder injury

Berry was helped from the ground clutching at the shoulder he injured late in the season and was comforted in emotional scenes at halftime.

It’s a killer blow for the Lions – but it could open the door for a miraculous Lachie Neale comeback.

HEROIC HUGH

Brisbane superstar is set for another date with Geelong tagger Oisin Mullin after dismantling Collingwood’s midfield on Saturday.

McCluggage was simply extraordinary, particularly when the game was in the balance over the second and third quarters.

The star Lion finished with a matchwinning 37 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal.

McClugagge was smothered by Mullin when the Cats defeated the Lions in the qualifying final a fortnight ago.

BRILLIANT BILLY

Call it a September stunner for Collingwood star Jamie Elliott.

The mercurial Magpie responded to Brisbane’s third quarter ascendancy with a mark worthy of every finals highlight reel.

Elliott bided his time in a congested goal square before taking to the shoulders of Lion Brandon Starcevich.

He got the perfect sit, an extra lift and then the theatrical crash landing before putting through a much-needed goal.

WOUNDED STAR

The heat on the game hadn’t yet subsided before Collingwood was dealt a major blow.

Magpies champion Scott Pendlebury suffered a calf injury in the opening minutes of Saturday night’s preliminary final.

He went down the rooms as teammate Mason Cox lined up for the first goal of the match and was substituted out almost immediately after.

Collingwood denied Pendlebury carried an issue into the game despite him having constant dialogue with club doctors in the warm-up.

Roan Steele in just his fifth game of AFL was thrust into the match much earlier than he anticipated.

An unfortunate injury in such an early part of proceedings would have no doubt crossed coach Craig McRae’s mind before he opted against Bobby Hill as substitute.

SCOREBOARD

COLLINGWOOD 1.1 7.1 9.4 11.5 (71)

BRISBANE 4.3 4.6 11.9 15.10 (100)

GOALS

Magpies: Elliott 4, Membrey 2, Cox 2, Schultz, Lipinski, Houston

Lions: Gallop 3, W Ashcroft 2, Bailey 2, Rayner 2, Dunkley, Morris, Cameron, Lohmann, Zorko, McCluggage

BEST

Magpies: N Daicos, J Daicos, Quaynor, Elliott

Lions: McCluggage, W Ashcroft, Bailey, Andrews

INJURIES

Magpies: Pendlebury (calf)

Lions: Berry (shoulder)

CROWD: 96, 023 at MCG