Lachie Neale: Brisbane star addresses grand final suspension for first time as Lions touch down in Melbourne

Lachie Neale has addressed his grand final suspension for the first time as Brisbane get set to use their final throw of the dice to get the star midfielder cleared to face Fremantle.

Neale arrived in Melbourne alongside an extended Lions squad on Wednesday afternoon, with his status for Saturday’s decider still hanging in the balance after Brisbane opted to appeal the AFL Tribunal verdict of upholding his one-match ban.

The appeal will be held via video conference on Thursday afternoon, little more than two hours before team line-ups for the grand final are revealed to the public.

In his first public comments since the Match Review Officer’s verdict on Sunday condemning his strike to the stomach of Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan, Neale said he was firmly focused on his club rather than his individual case.

“Regardless of the result (of the appeal), I’ll be here to support the boys and the club this week,” Neale said at Melbourne Airport.