Lachie Neale to leave Brisbane Lions and expected to join Collingwood — ABC News Australia

In Australia, Australian rules football player Lachie Neale will leave the Brisbane Lions after eight seasons and is expected to join the Collingwood Magpies in 2027. ABC News Australia reports.

Free-agent move

The Brisbane Lions confirmed that the 33-year-old Neale is leaving the team as an unrestricted free agent. In a club statement, list manager Dom Ambrogio thanked the player for his contribution over eight seasons and wished him success in the next stage of his career.

Collingwood said Neale had decided to exercise his free-agent rights to move to the club. The team expects to officially welcome the athlete after the opening of the Australian Football League's trade and free-agency period, which begins on Friday.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Achievements in Brisbane

Neale leaves the Lions after the club's third consecutive championship. In the grand final, the team defeated the Fremantle Dockers by seven points.

After the match, the footballer said he greatly valued his time at the club. He played 186 matches for the Brisbane Lions and won two Brownlow Medals, in 2020 and 2023. Neale joined the Brisbane club from Fremantle at the end of 2018. He played 135 matches for the Dockers between 2012 and 2018. The Australian Football League is to determine the compensation Brisbane will receive for the player's departure.