Lachie Neale appears on track for what was initially viewed as a far-fetched grand-final return after the Brisbane Lions star trained strongly ahead of the side’s flight to Melbourne. At least 2000 fans made the 45km commute from Brisbane to Lions headquarters, joining in a rendition of Happy Birthday for milestone man Zac Bailey. Brisbane Lions fans turned out in droves to watch training. Neale had 35 touches in the Lions’ grand-final domination of Sydney last year and is one of the cleanest ball-handlers under pressure in the competition. Ruckman Oscar McInerney played in the Lions’ 2023 grand-final loss to Collingwood but was ruled out of last year’s decider with a shoulder dislocation of his own.