There are plenty of talking points after the AFL's preliminary final weekend, with the biggest being whether Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale deserves his one-week ban for a gut punch on Jack Ginnivan, which, as it stands, has the two-time Brownlow Medal winner missing the 2026 Grand Final.
Let's get to this week's overreactions column, where we judge the biggest takeaways as legitimate or irrational.
Lachie Neale should get off, and play in the Grand Final
Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale is set to miss the AFL Grand Final against Fremantle after being handed a one-game ban for striking Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan during Saturday evening's thrilling preliminary final at the MCG.
Minutes after the league handed down the verdict the Lions released a statement confirming the club would be challenging the suspension at the tribunal. So, should the ban stand or should Neale be free to help his side to a historic threepeat?
Watch the incident that has Brisbane expecting Lachie Neale to be offered a one-match ban that would see him miss the 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
— AFL (@AFL) September 20, 2026
More: https://t.co/rypIfD3KkO pic.twitter.com/qN97LaLMBu
Jake Michaels
Verdict: Not an overreaction
I've been one of Neale's greatest supporters and advocaters throughout his entire football career, but come on, the man simply cannot take to the field on Saturday afternoon.
Neale knew what he was doing. He ran up behind Ginnivan, swung his fist with serious force into his stomach and dropped him to the ground. It was stupid. It was unnecessary. It was a brain fade of the highest order. And just like everyone else, he simply must cop the penalty that we all know fits the crime.
This year alone, there have been six instances of players being handed suspensions for similar off-the-ball gut punches -- that non-football action the league has been desperate to stamp out of the game and remove from all levels of grassroots football. What sort of crappy example would it set by downgrading the suspension to a fine and allowing Neale to play?
I understand Brisbane's desire to challenge the decision and pray their star midfielder is able to play, but the league must stand firm on this. It's an incredibly slippery slope if we start making concessions simply because it's Grand Final week. The tribunal needs to stand firm and not cave to the external pressure.
Matt Walsh
Verdict: Overreaction
I didn't think I'd be saying this, but missing a Grand Final for something -- in the grand scheme of things -- that is relatively minor would be a shame.
Yes, it would be upheld as a ban if it was in Round 10. Yes, he should know better. But put plainly, it'd suck to not have one of the biggest five names in the sport taking to the field on Grand Final day for something that would have resulted in a fine last year, you can't deny that.
I'd like to see a greater threshold for missing a Grand Final. Think of it like the 'reverse double demerit' argument. In order to miss a Grand Final, you have to have done something significant. It's a Grand Final! A silly moment shouldn't keep you out of the biggest game of the year.
Is it double standards? It sure is, but you could point out a handful of incidents every week which 'coulda, shoulda, woulda' when it comes to the MRO and the tribunal. Neale's incident was not significant enough to warrant missing a decider.
It happens with the Brownlow, too. Think Patrick Cripps' hit on Callum Ah Chee which was overturned at the tribunal after a marathon hearing. It was thrown out on an 'error of law' and Cripps wasn't embarrassed on Brownlow night. And you know what? We all got over it.
Neale's hit on Ginnivan wasn't high and he wasn't left concussed. I think he's stiff. Stupid, but stiff.
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