Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has insisted his upcoming dinner with Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale is simply a longstanding friendship catch up, while acknowledging the Saints would be remiss not to discuss the dual Brownlow Medallist's AFL future. With Neale out of contract at the end of the 2026 season, St Kilda has joined Collingwood and Essendon among the clubs linked to the experienced midfielder.
The pair are set to meet after Brisbane's clash with Geelong, although Lyon stressed there has been no formal recruitment discussion leading into the dinner.
Lyon says meeting has been overblown
Lyon explained that he and Neale regularly meet alongside a mutual friend and dismissed suggestions the dinner was arranged specifically to lure the Lions star to Moorabbin.
"To be honest, that close friend will be there as well, we've got a mutual friend and there has been no preliminary discussions or anything like that," Lyon said.
"Except clearly it was in the AFL landscape, and I'd simply describe it as a normal dinner with both people window shopping."
"There's certainly no strong agenda from either side. Lachie has got a game tonight and playing great footy and for their club."
Lyon also criticised the leak surrounding the private dinner.
"Our dinners tend to remain confidential. I know Lachie and I didn't talk about it, so that talks to other people with less integrity."
Saints will ask about Neale's future
While Lyon downplayed the significance of the meeting, he admitted St Kilda would naturally make enquiries if the conversation turned to football.
"This is a friendship catch up. We're late to even thinking about recruiting Lachie. It's just doing due diligence about the situation," Lyon said.
"Because I wouldn't have thought he's leaving Brisbane and I still don't think that's guaranteed."
"If Collingwood, Essendon, everyone is talking to Lachie, then I can slip in between entree and main, 'Mate, what are you thinking about doing with your life and footy?'"
Neale has become one of the most sought after unrestricted free agents after helping Brisbane secure back to back AFL premierships.
The veteran midfielder previously played 135 games under Lyon during their time together at Fremantle before joining the Lions.
Wanganeen Milera report dismissed
Lyon also denied reports that St Kilda midfielder Nasiah Wanganeen Milera would attend the dinner as part of a recruiting pitch.
"That was just a red herring I threw out to excite you all and it did, but it's not true and that's OK. Both sides of the fence don't come with facts a lot of the time."
The Saints coach maintained the catch up should not be viewed as anything more than friends meeting for dinner.
"Romance is your words. What's the likelihood? I'll frame it again. It's a friendship dinner that somehow has turned into this circus."
Lyon jokes about adding Neale to young Saints core
Despite tempering expectations, Lyon could not resist joking about how Neale would fit into St Kilda's emerging midfield.
He pointed to young talents including Nasiah Wanganeen Milera, Mattaes Phillipou, Hugo Garcia, Darcy Wilson, Tom De Koning, Hugh Boxshall and Charlie Bamfield as the core of the club's future.
"We need it to be Nas, Phillipou, Garcia, Wilson, De Koning over the next five or six years, no doubt about it. Boxshall, Bamfield. Throw Lachie Neale in, I don't know."
Whether the dinner ultimately has any influence on Neale's future remains to be seen, but Lyon's comments suggest St Kilda will at least explore every opportunity as one of the AFL's biggest free agency decisions approaches.
