AFL

It’s not all over for Lachie Neale — there are still two avenues that could see him play in Brisbane’s fourth consecutive Grand Final.

Neale saw his one-match ban for striking Jack Ginnivan upheld by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night, meaning he will miss the chance at a Lions three-peat when they take on Fremantle.

However, Brisbane still have two legal options to exhaust in clearing Neale for the season decider.

AFL Appeals Board

MORE: Why Lachie Neale didn’t get ‘Pendlebury’ treatment, copped Grand Final suspension

Brisbane and Neale can take their case to the AFL Appeals Board, with any hearing likely to be Thursday night.

The Lions have four possible grounds which Neale’s suspension can be overturned, with only one needing to be met:

An error of law that has a material impact on the decision of the Tribunal
That the decision was so unreasonable that no Tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it
The classification of the offence was manifestly excessive or inadequate
The sanction imposed was manifestly excessive or inadequate

It’s likely Brisbane will argue that the suspension is ‘manifestly excessive or inadequate’ considering the fact Neale has never been suspended before across 320 games.

Supreme Court injunction

If Neale fails at the AFL Appeals Board, then the Lions do have access to a bombshell option — a Supreme Court injunction.

In 1996, Sydney successfully applied for a Supreme Court injunction over Andrew Dunkley’s striking charge.

It was granted on the grounds that Dunkley didn’t have enough time to prepare evidence.

Dunkley was free to play in the 1996 Grand Final and was subsequently suspended for three weeks after the match.

Whether Brisbane will have any grounds for a possible Supreme Court injunction remains to be seen — if they fail at the AFL Appeals Board.

AFL

AFL Appeals Board

Supreme Court injunction

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