A decade, a new club and two Brownlow Medals on from his first AFL grand final, Lachie Neale is determined to make his second one count.
Back in 2013, the Brisbane Lions star was a fresh-faced 20-year-old and the substitute in a Fremantle team that crumbled against Hawthorn in that season's decider.
After claiming his second Brownlow Medal, at the Lions' function in Brisbane on Monday night, Neale took a philosophical approach to backing up winning the game's top individual honour with attempting to claim its greatest prize.
"I was very young with that experience in 2013 and probably didn’t soak it up enough and thought it would just happen again and again," Neale said ahead of the side's open training session on Tuesday.
"And I haven’t been back to a grand final, so for me it’s just about embracing all of this … enjoying every moment with the teammates and the club and my family as well."
In 2001 and 2002 respectively, Lions Jason Akermanis and Simon Black won that year's Brownlow, then backed up with grand final victory later in the week.
"I don't think I really believe in them," he said of omens.
"It's not just going to happen; we've got to out and play well and execute and get the result.
"I've got to reset pretty quickly; it was pretty overwhelming but I'm mature enough now to switch that off and don't feel that necessity at all (to overplay his hand).
"The last two finals have probably showed that, been far from the best player on the ground and we've had two really good wins."
Neale is the first two-time winner since former Dockers teammate Nat Fyfe in 2015 and 2019, and just the 16th player to win multiple Brownlow Medals.
"Yeah, I’d trade them both (to win a premiership). That’s the ultimate goal and having been through this process before and not having a premiership (medal) around my neck I know that’s going to be the best feeling in the world," he said.
The 30-year-old, who won the 2020 award and was runner-up last year, polled 31 votes to win from Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (29) and Collingwood's Nick Daicos (28)
Neale stormed home with three-vote games in the final two rounds, describing the count as "wild".
It didn't come without a contentious call, though.
Neale claimed three votes against GWS in round six for 20 disposals and six clearances.
That day, teammate Charlie Cameron kicked seven goals, while Giants Josh Kelly and Steven Coniglio had 41 and 38 disposals respectively.
That was one of seven three-vote games that helped the Lion to victory.
He agreed he was surprised to poll three votes in that game but said that was "the beauty of the Brownlow" given he didn't earn votes in other games he expected to.
