What's the vibe in the room last night for someone like Lockie Neal?

Yeah, he did speak last night.

He came third in the best and fairest, so another podium finish for him.

So he got up on stage and spoke there and I mean generally it was a celebration of his time Chris Fagan as part of his speech had said that Lockie Neal was very instrumental in the club's turnaround said that they couldn't win a contested ball before he got there and obviously he helped change that and that would be part of his legacy at the club so generally from the club it was very warm and the supporters and members within the room, it was very warm.

Yeah, I must say, once that news came out that West Coast offer was the same, it probably raised a few eyebrows, but very hard, as you alluded to there, to comment on someone's personal situation.

We don't know the access to children and the family situation that would be in Perth, but it would seem it's a bit more difficult when you're a four-hour flight away, but that's for Lachie and his family and his children to sort out.

What's your vibe inside the room last night about the replacement?

Oh, I feel like it's pretty split.

and don't remind and this is a personal decision so we can't tell him how to run his life but this is where his family is so to speak but he's chosen to go to Collingwood what's the vibe in the room last night for someone like Lockie Neal

yeah he did speak last night he came third in the best and fairest so another podium finish for him so he got up on stage and spoke there and I mean generally it was a celebration of his time Chris Fagan as part of his speech and said that Lockie Neal was very instrumental in the club's turnaround said that they couldn't win a contested ball before he got there and obviously he helped change that and that would be part of his legacy at the club so generally from the club it was very warm and the Supporters and members within the room, it was very warm.

Yeah, I must say, once that news came out that West Coast offer was the same, it probably raised a few eyebrows, but very hard, as you alluded to there, to comment on someone's personal situation.

We don't know the access to children and the family situation that would be in Perth, but it would seem it's a bit more difficult when you're a four-hour flight away, but that's for Lachie and his family and his children to sort out

What's your vibe inside the room last night about the replacement?

Oh, I feel like it's pretty split.

I mean, Danny's obviously got an itch that he wants to scratch in terms of coaching and probably has that what if.

Can I do the job? He'd love to have a crack at it.

He had to pick this team and this club off the bottom of the heap, nearly a decade with no finals, players not wanting to play there, and all of a sudden he turns it into one of the great destination clubs, if not the destination club in the league.

Yeah.

It's probably easy to forget now because they've been so successful for so long just how bad they were.

So 2016, the, the season before he came, I remember multiple matches at the Gabba where it was 10 to 15,000 people.

They were terrible.

They were a terrible product on the field.

Like you said, players wanted to leave.

Could've gone either way, both of those games.

If not the destination club in the league.

Yeah, it's probably easy to forget now because they've been so successful for so long.

Just how bad they were.

So 2016, the season before he came, I remember multiple matches at the Gabba where it was 10,000 to 15,000 people playing.

They were a terrible product on the field.

Like you said, players wanted to leave.

No one wanted to come.

Could have gone either way both of those games.

emotional will it be there at the Best and Fairest tonight, Fish?

Oh, it'll be...

Yeah, it's hard to sort of predict, Chad, but I think it'll be very emotional.

It's almost 10 years to the day since he got appointed.

I was looking it up earlier.

It was October 3 or October 4, 2016, when he had his very first press conference.

So almost to the day, and to think where the club was at that stage, absolute rock bottom.

Is that well regarded from everyone that he deals with?

If he was to step away, is it an easy transition for one of the assistants or even the head of footy Danny Daly?

It probably feels like that.

I mean, I'd only started thinking about this a couple of days ago when it emerged as much more of a possibility that Chris Fagan might finish up, but it feels like that's an easy transition.

And we talk about club culture and all this sort of stuff, and that starts from the top, right? That's people, it's people in hierarchy, and your senior coach is part of that.

And if you're drawing from internally, it feels like you're not really upsetting the apple cart there too much.

You're not going to tinker with... bringing someone from outside in not that that would necessarily be a bad thing but they're quality candidates if that's if Fage finishes and they have to find someone new Danny Daly and Cam Bruce are two high high quality candidates I don't know which way you'd go I guess that's probably a question for if and when Fage decides to call it quits but when you've got guys in your club that you think can do the job.

And the club obviously knows best whether they think those guys are equipped.

And everyone who's angry about free agency and the equalization and everything that comes with, you know, the Lions being able to attract, you know, Drapers and the Oscar Allens of the world, there's nothing the AFL can do because all of a sudden they're taking this feeling they are having right now, they are taking that over financial gain and there's nothing the league can do about it.

If he was to step away, is it an easy transition for one of the assistants or even the head of footy Danny Daly?

It probably feels like that.

I mean, I'd only started thinking about this a couple of days ago when it emerged as much more of a possibility that Chris Fagan might finish up, but it feels like that's an easy transition.

And we talk about club culture and all this sort of stuff, and that starts from the top, right? That's people, it's people in hierarchy, and your senior coach is part of that.

And if you're drawing from internally, it feels like you're not really upsetting the apple cart there too much.

You're not going to tinker with... bringing someone from outside in not that that would necessarily be a bad thing but they're quality candidates if that's if Fage finishes and they have to find someone new Danny Daly and Cam Bruce are two high high quality candidates I don't know which way you'd go I guess that's probably a question for if and when Fage decides to call it quits but when you've got guys in your club that you think can do the job.

And the club obviously knows best whether they think those guys are equipped.

And everyone who's angry about free agency and the equalization and everything that comes with, you know, the Lions being able to attract, you know, Drapers and the Oscar Allens of the world, there's nothing the AFL can do because all of a sudden they're taking this feeling they are having right now, they are taking that over financial gain and there's nothing the league can do about

Do you feel that he just needs time and maybe the club needs to say, look, go away for a long period of time and come back in the pre-season and let us know what you want to do? Well, that's what I'd say.

Take as long as you want, mate.

Come back in February if you want, but...

Look, I'm sure the fact that it's come out so publicly now and he's been so happy to engage in the conversation, he's obviously been thinking about it for a while.

We know, even as far back as after they won their first premiership, that he struggled in the month or two after that first premiership, just wrapping his head around things and how difficult that year and those couple of years had been for him.

I mean I probably it sounds I mean his press conference sounded like half a retirement speech that's what it felt like when I when I heard that and walked out of there and it might not be that but he's a I imagine he's a long way down the thought process he just needs a couple of days to to get some clarity after this most recent accomplishment and They've got their best and fairest Thursday night.

He said he'd make his mind up quickly, so I wonder whether we'll hear an announcement then.

And the impact on footy in Queensland, what does this do?

Do you feel that he just needs time and maybe the club needs to say, look, go away for a long period of time and come back in the pre-season and let us know what you want to do? Oh, that's what I'd

say.

Take as long as you want, mate.

Come back in February if you want, but...

Look, I'm sure the fact that it's come out so publicly now and he's been so happy to engage in the conversation, he's obviously been thinking about it for a while.

We know, even as far back as after they won their first premiership, that he struggled in the month or two after that first premiership, just wrapping his head around things and how difficult that year and those couple of years had been for him.

I mean, I probably, it sounds, I mean, his press conference sounded like half a retirement speech.

And the impact on footy in Queensland, what does this do?

What sort of assessment do you give for the rationale behind the decision?

Yeah, I mean, honestly, it makes sense to me.

I think they went the convoluted way of getting there.

I didn't think he was ever a chance of getting off the strike.

It was pretty clear what his intention was and that he made some contact.

So I thought that was going to be a bridge too far.

But the exceptional and compelling or excessive and compelling circumstances there, notion that they went down, that makes sense to me.

Do you think that comes into the equation at all?

Is that correct? How do you think it plays out, Fish?

Yeah, I mean, I don't think it would help anyway.

Look, I'm not sure what grounds they're going to argue on today.

I thought it was always going to be a stretch that he'd get off the strike.

So they were trying to argue it wasn't a strike and that it was low impact and not medium.

I thought that was going to be difficult to get off considering the new interpretation of that rule that's been brought in this year i probably did think that the excessive and compelling circumstances would give them a shot with his clean record 320 games no suspensions brown lows and best and fairest and all the rest of it i thought that might give him a fighting chance considering what's at stake this weekend so i'm not sure if they go back and double down on that but i find it really difficult to think that they're going to alter an appeals board's view on the interpretation of this new rule this year.

What are you feeling genuinely, taking all allegiances aside, putting them all aside? Which way are you going? Who wins the normie?

Yeah, I do think Brisbane I've just got more trust in them like I think everyone that we know they're going to play well on Saturday don't we now whether that's well enough I don't I don't know but we know they're going to play well with Fremantle there's a little question mark I rate Fremantle awesome team best team through the home and away season but I think Brisbane have shown when it's when it gets tight and you need to make big plays they can get them done so I think they'll win by a And I went with this guy last year.

Uh, what have you been doing today? What else is happening apart from Lachie Neil?

Uh, so, oh, a funny old day for me.

Um, I mean, Lions training this morning.

I had some stories left over to write, honestly.

I did a bunch of players that I spoke to early in the week, and I'm still trying to punch those stories out that'll roll out over the rest of the week.

Did a cross for our footy feed, our, our daily news show on our website.

So, I mean, dipping my toe in the water in a few little areas I don't normally get to.

He's popular.

... has had such a brilliant year, hasn't he?

Oh, he really has.

Like, I, I must admit, t- 12 months ago, I thought, "Oh, I can see why they're going after Draper," but they've won premierships with Oscar McInerney, Darcy Fort.

They've done it with those, I guess, unheralded, undervalued ruckmen.

Do they really need to be going and spending money, more money on a, on a better ruckman? But he, he has been unbelievable this year.

Like, the...

Obviously, the new rules at the center ball-up helps him because he's so athletic, but h- the service he gives to the midfield, and the combination with Darcy Fort, again, I thought, "Oh, is that gonna work?" But they've almost split the time 50/50.

Once it all dies down, you get into the crux of the off-season, how have you seen the Suns early doors?

... has had such a brilliant year, hasn't he?

Oh, he really has.

Like, I, I must admit, t- 12 months ago, I thought, "Oh, I can see why they're going after Draper," but they've won premierships with Oscar McInerney, Darcy Fort.

They've done it with those, I guess, unheralded, undervalued ruckmen.

Do they really need to be going and spending money, more money on a, on a better ruckman? But he, he has been unbelievable this year.

Like, the...

Obviously, the new rules at the center ball-up helps him because he's so athletic, but h- the service he gives to the midfield, and the combination with Darcy Fort, again, I thought, "Oh, is that gonna work?" But they've almost split the time 50/50.

Once it all dies down, you get into the crux of the off-season, how have you seen the Suns early doors?

Is there unrest? Is he, for the want of a better word, unpopular within the playing group? Have you sensed it? Have you heard it?

Oh, look, I haven't sensed that.

I'm sure a few people...

The odd player and certainly the odd staff have probably raised their eyebrows when it became evident that he was going to play in Melbourne rather than either stay in Brisbane or potentially go to Perth.

Personally, I haven't seen any issues filtering through the playing group.

I know I saw reports last weekend going pretty strongly opposed to that, but I haven't seen anything personally.

There's only one way he can answer in the next fortnight, and that's playing good footy, but...

That would hurt Chris Fagan, I have no doubt.

Yeah, we were discussing off air the dollar value of that two-year extension, and Kimbo seems to think it's around 900, which surprises me, 'cause I think he's 1.5-plus if he goes on the open market, Fish.

Mm.

Yeah, he certainly turned down a lot of money.

Um, he did speak to the late morning in Brisbane and said that he was just happy to get it done.

He said, "I, I knew I wanted to stay here.

Basically, there was no point buggering around.

I might as well just sign the contract." But he's definitely left a lot of money on the table, and Brisbane's made it pretty clear.

... a real bounce back, top four type situation next year?

Yeah, we were discussing off air the dollar value of that two-year extension, and Kimbo seems to think it's around 900, which surprises me, 'cause I think he's 1.5-plus if he goes on the open market, Fish.

Mm.

Yeah, he certainly turned down a lot of money.

Um, he did speak to the late morning in Brisbane and said that he was just happy to get it done.

He said, "I, I knew I wanted to stay here.

Basically, there was no point buggering around.

I might as well just sign the contract." But he's definitely left a lot of money on the table, and Brisbane's made it pretty clear.

Are you expecting a real bounce back, top four type situation next year?

And if you think that every time these players come out of contract, you have to pay market value, someone's got to fall out of the tree at some stage, you'd think.

Yeah, you're right, Bix.

I mean, last year they lost, of course, Callum Archie, who's in Adelaide, and Brandon Starcevich, who went back to his home state in Western Australia to play for the Eagles.

So two players, I guess, fell out then, to use your turn of phrase.

And I think that's right.

They're going to be hard to keep, all of them.

Now, Loman and Morris are the two that are out next year.

Do you feel that when you watch them play?

And if you think that every time these players come out of contract, you have to pay market value, someone's got to fall out of the tree at some stage, you'd think.

Yeah, you're right, Bix.

I mean, last year they lost, of course, Callum Archie, who's in Adelaide, and Brandon Starcevich, who went back to his home state in Western Australia to play for the Eagles.

So two players, I guess, fell out then, to use your turn of phrase.

And I think that's right.

They're going to be hard to keep, all of them.

Now, Loman and Morris are the two that are out next year.

Do you feel that when you watch them play?

How big a loss is Ben King going to be? And can they restructure it around Jed Walter to have something that maybe works as well, if not better?

Well, they're going to have to for a start.

He's a big loss, Ben King.

I know he's not everyone's cup of tea when it comes to a key forward because like you say, he's sort of lead up mark and kick and he doesn't necessarily crash pack, but he still kicked 70-odd goals last year, 60-odd this year.

It's a lot of goals to replace.

And you've got Jed Walter who's entering year four and made a big jump this year, I've got to say.

I wasn't really sold on him at the start of the season.

I do get the feeling that it may take another year of getting this stable and getting more games into those kids before Gold Coast really pops in the way we thought they might pop this year.

You're right.

It might.

I mean, all of those kids are going to be 19 or 20 instead of 18 or 19.

It's not a significant difference, is it? You can't.

You can't fast-track experience, but they would be hoping that's where Pendlebury bridges the gap, that an Addensall or a Murray or one of these younger guys only has to play 10 games next year instead of 20, and you can help drip-feed, I guess, the younger players in and expose them to more significant roles.

But you're right.

Why and what impact will he have?

Oh, why? I mean, I guess they need...

The more experience, the better.

They do have some experience on that list, but not a lot.

And I think as we saw this season unfold, that became more and more evident.

I think a lot of people have rightly spoken about the players they lost at the end of last year.

And these are mid-tier guys, guys like Ainsworth, Fiorini, Flanders, Butterick, guys with a modicum of experience and replaced them all with 18 and 19-year-olds.

And I wonder the other impact it has had is maybe stretching the leadership capabilities of Noah Anderson a little bit too thin, that he's needed more support than he's had in terms of being a senior player.

Why and what impact will he have?

Oh, why? I mean, I guess they need...

The more experience, the better.

They do have some experience on that list, but not a lot.

And I think as we saw this season unfold, that became more and more evident.

I think a lot of people have rightly spoken about the players they lost at the end of last year.

And these are mid-tier guys, guys like Ainsworth, Fiorini, Flanders, Butterick, guys with a modicum of experience and replaced them all with 18 and 19-year-olds.

And I wonder the other impact it has had is maybe stretching the leadership capabilities of Noah Anderson a little bit too thin, that he's needed more support than he's had in terms of being a senior player.

Is it hard to be a journalist in 2026 where you're trying to do your job, but... there's also a lot of media that people just need to consume.

Yeah, there is.

I guess each media organisation has different expectations and different wants for their content.

I know for, like, obviously I work for AFL.com, so what we want and how we report on things is going to be a lot different to how the Daily Mail or News Corp or SEN or other companies sort of go about it.

We've all...

I mean, we've all got football audiences, but to an extent, we've all got different audiences.

I think us, you guys, we've got rusted on footy fans.

Are they as well placed as they have been in previous years to go all the way?

There's also a lot of media that people just need to consume.

Yeah, there is.

I guess each media organisation has different expectations and different wants for their content.

I know for, like, obviously I work for AFL.com, so what we want and how we report on things is going to be a lot different to how the Daily Mail or News Corp or SEN or other companies sort of go about it.

We've all...

I mean, we've all got football audiences, but to an extent, we've all got different audiences.

I think us, you guys, we've got rusted on footy fans.

Are they as well placed as they have been in previous years to go all the way?