In the lead-up to the 2025 AFL grand final, the Brisbane Lions face a selection dilemma that has ignited debate across the football community. Star midfielder Lachie Neale, who has battled a calf injury for much of the finals campaign, is pushing to prove his fitness just days before the blockbuster clash with Geelong. Yet, respected Channel Seven AFL analyst Kane Cornes has cautioned the Lions against making what he describes as “one of the great selection risks in a grand final that we’ve seen.”

Cornes, never one to shy away from bold calls, argued that Brisbane cannot afford to gamble on Neale’s availability with so much on the line. The two-time Brownlow medallist has played just three quarters of football in the past seven weeks and has suffered two separate soft-tissue setbacks in that span.

“I think it’s a risk not worth taking. That’s no criticism of anyone. It’s just that he’s played three quarters in seven weeks. He’s had two soft tissue injuries in that time. So, I’m just not sure how you can test him this week,” Cornes told The Nightly.

Cornes questioned how Neale’s body could withstand the unique fatigue of a grand final after such a disrupted preparation. “He can get through all the training he likes, but how they’re going to replicate the fatigue that comes on halfway through the third quarter in a grand final … I’m just not sure you can prepare for that,” he said.

The analyst added bluntly: “If they pick him, I think it’ll be one of the great selection risks in a grand final that we’ve seen. I guess the ball will be left in his court to probably make the call, provided he gets through all the training this week.”

Neale’s Unexpected Recovery

Neale injured his calf on September 5 and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the season by club medical staff, who deemed the recovery time at least four weeks. However, the midfielder refused to accept that prognosis and has since mounted a remarkable comeback.

On Saturday, Neale completed an intense running session before joining full training on Tuesday in front of a large, vocal crowd at Springfield. Fans roared their approval as he jogged laps, took part in drills, fielded ground balls, kicked at goals, and twisted through traffic—clear signs he was pushing hard to make himself available.

The 31-year-old has a reputation for resilience and determination, traits that were on full display as he put his body through its paces. The cheers from supporters underscored his importance to Brisbane’s hopes of claiming back-to-back premierships. Neale was pivotal in the Lions’ 2024 grand final triumph over Sydney, amassing 35 disposals and displaying his trademark composure under pressure.

Still, Cornes insists even a player of Neale’s stature should not be risked if there is any doubt about his durability. He also dismissed the idea of naming Neale as the substitute, another strategy floated during the week.

“It’s probably not ideal. But whether they play him with the idea that they might sub him out early, I’m not sure, you’ve got to be ready to play a full game,” Cornes said. “As we saw with Pendlebury in the prelim, if you get an injury earlier that player that comes on has to be prepared to play almost four quarters.”

Dangerfield’s Influence Looms

While much of the build-up has focused on Neale, Cornes also weighed in on the influence of Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield. The veteran Cat produced one of his greatest finals performances in the preliminary final against Hawthorn, inspiring his side to victory with a dominant display.

“It’s going to be hard, it’s probably as good a game as he’s ever played. I don’t think anyone’s expecting him to do that again, but he will have his moments where he inserts himself physically into the game which has been remarkable for a player of that age, and in a new position that he’s been playing,” Cornes explained.

“They don’t need him to do what he did last week. They just need a couple of big moments from him, which no doubt, I’m sure he’ll provide, as he always does.”

Dangerfield’s physicality and leadership are likely to prove crucial as Geelong attempt to blunt Brisbane’s midfield.

Tactical Questions Await

Geelong already have the blueprint for toppling Brisbane, having comfortably beaten them in the opening week of the finals by nullifying Hugh McCluggage. Cornes said Brisbane must now find alternative strategies if they hope to reverse that result.

“It will be interesting to see what Brisbane come up with that’s different to last time. I mean, they’re pretty set in the way that they play behind the contested mark and are a ball movement team, but that didn’t work against them last time, where they conceded 60 points off turnover in Geelong. Geelong were ready for that,” Cornes said.

The midfield battle looms as decisive. Both teams’ on-ball brigades were superb in their preliminary finals, but Cornes highlighted the likelihood of targeted match-ups. “Can Brisbane midfield maintain the dominance they had against Collingwood? Both these midfields in the premium final were exceptional. I don’t think Will Ashcroft and (Hugh) McCluggage will get to be alone. And we know that (Oisin) Mullin did a great job on McCluggage last time and kept him to four kicks. And then Ashcroft had a great final series. I suspect (Tom) Atkins goes to him.”

The tactical puzzle extends beyond the midfield. Cornes noted the critical role of Brisbane’s Harris Andrews in defence and wondered how Geelong would approach nullifying his impact. “And then, what do Geelong with Harris Andrews, who’s been incredible for Brisbane behind the ball. Whether it’s (Mark) Blicavs that plays that role, and (Rhys) Stanley comes in for (Tom) Stewart and plays ruck will be as well.”

A Defining Decision Ahead

As the Lions weigh whether to take the gamble on Neale, Cornes’ words reflect the high stakes of grand final week. Selecting an injured superstar could either inspire a fairytale storyline or backfire spectacularly, leaving Brisbane undermanned on the biggest stage.

The decision may ultimately rest with Neale himself, whose desire to compete in another grand final is obvious. Yet the balance between sentiment, risk, and strategy will be at the forefront of Brisbane’s final selection discussions. For fans, the sight of Neale charging through training drills offers hope. For the coaching staff, it represents the toughest of calls—one that could shape the outcome of the 2025 AFL grand final.