Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale has revealed he felt something snap in his foot, moments after becoming a premiership player.
Neale was battling a heel injury through the finals series, but was cleared to play in Saturday’s grand final — a game they won by 60 points.
The two-time Brownlow medallist was given injections pre-game and played through some pain.
In an interview with Channel 7 on the ground just seconds after the final siren, Neale said he got through fine, but felt “something snap” in the final term.
Neale was the leading disposal-winner on the ground with 34 touches. He also had nine clearances.
“At the start of the year everyone was questioning us and I think we were 13th at the turn,” he said.
“Just so proud of this club and this group, just such an amazing club to be a part of and such an amazing feeling of pride.”
His first premiership medal caps a remarkable career for Neale. He was the substitute in Fremantle’s 2013 defeat to Hawthorn and was a part of the Lions’ losing side last season.
He even admitted he would give his Brownlow medals away “a thousand times over” for a premiership.
“I can’t really put it into words, it means a hell of a lot,” Neale said.
“It’s such a throwaway line when people say ‘I’d give my Brownlow back’, but for this feeling, for today, for how it’s all panned out, I’d do it a thousand times over.”
Neale received eight votes to finish second in Norm Smith Medal voting behind teammate Will Ashcroft. He was also handing the first-ever Ron Barrassi Medal for becoming a premiership captain, with co-captain Harris Andrews.
He said the club’s semifinal comeback miracle against Greater Western Sydney was the turning point where he began to believe they were one of the best teams in the competition.
“That was the turning point in a way, we had to throw everything at it in the second half against the Giants, they had us on toast,” Neale said.
“I felt that Sydney and GWS were probably the best two teams in it, other than us obviously — it felt like, if we got that one we were a genuine chance.
“It carried on into the prelim and then today.”
