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Brisbane Lions superstar Lachie Neale’s post-game comments that he had to play a more “selfless role” after getting tagged by Saint Marcus Windhager has surprised Fox Footy pundits.
Neale was nullified by Windhager in the Lions’ 15-point win over St Kilda on Friday night and even moved to full-forward early in the game to try and combat the tag to little effect.
The 2020 Brownlow medallist was held to a season-low 16 disposals — the first time he’s had fewer than 20 touches in 2022 amid a brilliant campaign — as well as 11 contested possessions, eight clearances and four score involvements, while Windhager recorded 21 possessions himself.
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“We knew pretty early in the week (Windhager would play on him) so we’d planned for it,” Neale told Fox Footy after the win.
“I tried a few things to try and free up some players — release my wing inside the stoppage to get a free number, try and make some one v twos, try and play a bit more of a selfless role.”
“But he’s doing a great job, he’s tagged some players over the last few weeks pretty effectively … I feel like I played my role without being great.
“I think that’s something I need to add to my kit bag a little bit more too, getting forward when things aren’t going my way so I’ll keep working on that.”
Speaking on Fox Footy Live, St Kilda great Nick Dal Santo was taken back by Neale settling into a lesser role.
“If I’m ‘Fages’ (Chris Fagan) I don’t want my Brownlow medallist being a role player — let me put it simply like that,” he said.
“If you’re a Brownlow medallist and capable of getting it 30 times, let’s do that every week.”
Windhager has tagged several stars over the last month to great success including holding West Coast’s Tim Kelly to a career-worst four disposals in Round 19.
And Dal Santo has been impressed by the 19-year old, who’s played 17 games in his debut season after getting picked up by the Saints with Pick 47 in last year’s draft.
“I think Marcus Windhager has been a fantastic story. From where he was last year with some injury concerns, going through the Saints’ Academy a couple of years ago,” he said.
“He had been rock solid and one of their most consistent performers … he goes up against a Brownlow medallist tonight and takes the points in my opinion.”
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