Having been hammered with boos by Fremantle fans throughout Saturday’s grand final, former Docker Lachie Neale was greeted by a much warmer reception at Brisbane’s premiership celebrations on Sunday.
Just as they did after capturing flags in 2024 and 2025, the Lions began the day which preceded a long night of partying in front of thousands of fans at Brunswick Street Oval, the one-time home of Fitzroy before they merged with Brisbane Bears in 1996.
Neale had confirmed in the minutes after the game it would be his last for the club ahead of an expected defection to Collingwood, but was lavished with just as many cheers as the rest of his premiership teammates by Brisbane’s faithful.
The two-time Brownlow medallist — whose marriage to wife Jules broke down in highly-publicised fashion on the eve of the season — only featured in the contest thanks to the AFL appeals board’s stunning decision to overturn a one-week suspension for striking he was handed out of their preliminary final win over Hawthorn.
After securing his third consecutive premiership, Neale said he did not “give a s… about” how Fremantle’s supporters had voiced their disapproval of his presence throughout the day.
“I used to play for them as well, which probably added to it,” Neale said.
“I missed that set shot, which sucks, and that was the loudest it was all day.
“It’s part of the game. Honestly, it doesn’t bother me.”
And Neale even took the time to respond to a cheeky comment left on his Instagram post by Jack Ginnivan, who he had dropped with a swinging arm to the stomach only a week prior.
“Hope your tummy okay my guy x,” Neale replied to the comment of a cherry emoji Ginnivan left on a photo of him holding the three premiership cups he has won with the Lions.
Brisbane have had plenty of practice with premiership celebrations in recent years — but the nature of their dramatic comeback victory over the Dockers may have taken their enthusiasm to the next level.
Coach Chris Fagan was the star of their party at the Pullman Hotel, with the 65-year-old appearing sheepish and nervous as he found himself perched the shoulders of their co-captain Harris Andrews.
Star forward Charlie Cameron set himself up behind a set of DJ decks to spin a playlist which included plenty of his trademark country tracks.
And some of Brisbane’s younger brigade were all too happy to continue their party with the cup at The Osborne Rooftop Bar in South Yarra, where forward Cam Rayner performed a ‘shoey’ to the delight of an adoring crowd.
Just about every Lion who rolled into their formal celebrations at 9.30am local time on Sunday did so with the aid of sunglasses, with even Fagan admitting his voice was nearly gone.
“We had a pretty good celebration last night, which was the right thing to do,” Fagan said.
“Thank you for coming out this morning. It is a little bit on the fresh side for us soft people from Brisbane – you hardy people from Melbourne, you’re a little bit different.
“We have a great bunch of supporters with us down here, and you’ve been with us for such a long, long time, many of you here.”
Of Brisbane’s three co-captains, Hugh McCluggage was given the first chance to hoist the 2026 premiership cup — but that also came with the responsibility of speaking at their function in Fitzroy North off what he estimated to be “a couple of hours” of sleep.
“Thank you very much for turning out for this and for the game,” McCluggage said.
“Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
Only 22 of Brisbane’s 23 players were spotted as they paraded the premiership cup at Fitzroy’s former home, with second-year midfielder Levi Ashcroft conspicuous by his absence.
Rumours quickly began to circulate that the 19-year-old was particularly weary after a long night of celebrations, which his more senior teammate Ryan Lester was all too happy to confirm.
“The young fella might have got a bit excited,” Lester told the Sunday Footy Show.
Brisbane’s official celebrations in their home city have been set for Tuesday.
