Brisbane star Lachie Neale is accumulating individual awards like he does possessions but what he covets most is the biggest prize of all – an AFL premiership.
The prolific midfielder will lead the Lions’ October flag charge with added silverware in his personal trophy cabinet after he was on Thursday night named the AFL Players’ Association’s Most Valuable Player for 2020.
Neale also claimed the AFL Coaches’ Association champion player of the year award and won an All-Australian blazer for the second straight season.
Neale, who is the red-hot favourite to take home the Brownlow Medal, to be awarded on October 18, was a clear MVP winner with 1120 votes from his peers.
Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak (419) and Melbourne best-and-fairest winner Christian Petracca (398) filled out the podium.
“It’s an award that I’m super proud to have won, to be voted by those who I play with and against makes it a really special award,” Neale said.
“I really respect the opinion of the other players and to be voted by them this year is something that I will look back on and be really proud of.
“To be alongside some of the other names who have won this award is a feeling that hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Neale led the AFL for disposals in 2020 and ranked in the top five for clearances and contested possessions.
He will be crucial to Brisbane’s premiership chances, starting with next week’s qualifying final against Richmond.
“There’s no guarantees that we get to that last game but we’ve set up the season really well and hopefully we can get there,” Neale said.
“There’s a lot of hard work to do before then and some great teams in our way.
“But I’m really confident in our playing group and our coaching group that we can get there.”
Neale won the AFLCA award with 93 votes, ahead of Petracca (78) and Boak (77).
“Lachie is relentless in his efforts to improve,” Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.
“He wants to be the best player he can be and he wants success for our club.
“That drive sets a standard for everyone at the Lions.
“His preparation is first class, he works incredibly hard on the fundamentals of the game and his appetite to learn is insatiable.
“As a coach, you can’t ask for any more than that.”
FACTBOX
AFL Players’ Association – Most Valuable Player
1. Lachie Neale (Brisbane) 1120 votes
2. Travis Boak (Port Adelaide) 419
3. Christian Petracca (Melbourne) 398
4. Tom Hawkins (Geelong) 370
5. Jack Steele (St Kilda) 207
AFL Coaches’ Association – champion player of the year
1. Lachie Neale (Brisbane) 93 votes
2. Christian Petracca (Melbourne) 78
3. Travis Boak (Port Adelaide) 77
4. Jack Steele (St Kilda) 72
5. Taylor Adams (Collingwood) 60
