Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale has rejected suggestions he contributed to the dangerous tackle which saw GWS’ Callan Ward suspended last Saturday.
Neale was taken to ground by the Giants veteran during Brisbane’s win, with his head hitting the Manuka Oval turf, resulting in Ward copping a one-match rough conduct ban from the Match Review.
However the Lions superstar was criticised by some, including Fox Footy commentators Garry Lyon and Jordan Lewis, who felt his actions were partially why the tackle turned dangerous – as Neale stood up and appeared not to be fighting his way out of Ward’s grip.
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But Neale explained he felt in the moment it was clear he was going to be caught holding the ball, with his resignation at the result seeing him look “floppy”.
“It all happens very quickly out on the field. But from my point of view, I remember picking the ball up, remember seeing Hughey McCluggage flash past and probably could’ve given it to him but thought he was under a fair bit of heat if I did, and then got tackled pretty quickly after that,” he told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“My initial thought was just retain the ball, you’re gonna be done holding the ball, let the defence set up and then that’s probably why it looked like I was a little bit floppy, I suppose, with my body.
“But then my legs were sort of caught up in Wardy’s and brought to ground. I think I had an arm free and that sort of hit the ground at the same time … obviously I was able to get up really quickly so I didn’t feel like the force was that big.
“I certainly didn’t feel like I put my head into the ground to try and get a free kick. The concussion debate as well is raging at the moment, and I wouldn’t ever go head-first into the ground on purpose and risk missing a week or two, or possibly longer, with concussion. That’d be ridiculous.
“I just felt like I was willing to be caught holding the ball at that time and didn’t mean to make it look like I was hitting the ground as hard as I could to get a free kick.”
Neale had sympathy for the umpires involved who had to make the snap decision whether to call holding the ball, resulting in a stoppage of play, or give him time to break free.
“It’s so hard for the umpires as well, because they’re probably trying to give me the chance to fight through it,” he said.
“But knowing the tackle that was applied I thought there was no way I’m getting this out, I’m locked up and I’m just gonna concede that it’s gonna be holding the ball.
“So they’re trying to give me time to fight my way out of it but I was just happy to hold the ball to my chest, I wasn’t thinking about anything else other than trying to slow up the play, not let it spill out and let them get a flow-on or anything like that.”
Neale added he was not initially expecting to be taken to ground but the lack of a whistle to blow the play dead saw Ward continue on.
“Right in the moment I thought it was gonna be done standing up but Callan probably thought because the whistle hadn’t gone he had to complete the tackle,” he said.
“It is hard but I knew when my legs got locked up, I felt a bit off balance then, I thought aww yeah he’s gonna complete the tackle, which I’m fine with. He’s got every right to do that.
“That was the moment I thought this is actually gonna go to ground but before that I probably thought we were just gonna stand there, be caught holding the ball and I’d give the ball back to him.”
