Neale warns online abuse at ‘horrific’ lows, Dees hopeful on May, Bombers target Daicos with tag option
Online abuse of AFL players has sunk to “horrific” new lows, Brisbane’s dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale says.
Neale is among Lions players targeted by social media trolls after Brisbane’s heavy loss to Collingwood on Thursday night.
“People hiding behind keyboards to attack players are the biggest stain on society,” Neale posted on Instagram.
“It’s getting beyond a joke now, the things I’ve seen sent are some of the most horrific messages I’ve ever seen. It’s a game of football, grow the f*** up.
“Cowards. Put your face and name to your words.”
He added on Tuesday that
“It’s become a bit of a habit these days, a lot of racial stuff, a lot of abuse of players with their families, kids … stuff that’s hard to cop,” he said.
“When players cop death threats from a game of footy, it gets a bit crazy. I’m pretty passionate about it because it can affect players and people in general with their mental health.
“People are able create accounts and not have any responsibility for their words. I’d love to see a world where people have to face up to the words they say.
Neale’s comments follow Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley this week condemning online racial abuse of Power forward Willie Rioli.
Rioli has shut down his social media accounts after being the latest Indigenous AFL star to be abused.
“It’s a disgrace,” Hinkley told reporters on Wednesday.
“It’s a disgrace the racism that still goes on in our world. With the way we talk about lots of things in society, and yet that is still tolerated and still allowed to go on.
“There almost should be a law that makes people accountable.”
Lachie Neale with the 2023 Brownlow Medal. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
May keen for Anzac return
Melbourne are optimistic star defender Steven May will return for their Anzac Eve clash with Richmond.
The Demons were able to break through for their first win of 2025, ending a woeful 0-5 start to the season, by upstaging Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday.
May was struggling with a foot issue last week, but was declared fit to take on the Dockers.
But the 33-year-old suffered a groin strain at training and was pulled from the team on Friday.
Young defender Judd McVee is also expected to join May in the line-up, having recovered from a serious hamstring injury suffered in the pre-season.
“(May) was very close last week, it was a slight niggle to the groin, but we feel confident he’s made some big progression,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin said on Tuesday.
“He’s huge. Personnel plays a big part, but so does method and Steven is a big driver in our team ‘D’ (defence).
“I thought our backs held up incredibly well. Tom McDonald did a fantastic job in leading that defensive unit, but we get Steven May hopefully this week, Judd McVee hopefully this week.
“(May’s) got a few things he’s got to work through, but we’re positive that he’ll be able to do that and get through.”
Meanwhile, Brisbane’s Kai Lohmann is expected to return to face St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The exciting small forward hasn’t played since round three, when he re-injured the ankle he had initially hurt a fortnight earlier.
Defender Bruce Reville (hamstring) will be out for up to four weeks.
Tough Lions back Brandon Starcevich has returned to skills training after suffering a round-one concussion, but given his history of head knocks has no set return-to-play time-frame.
Gold Coast veteran David Swallow could also play his first game of the season against Sydney on Sunday.
The foundation Sun has been cleared to play after recovering from a knee injury sustained in a pre-season match against the Swans in February.
Sydney key forward Logan McDonald has had another ankle setback and is sidelined indefinitely.
McDonald, who had been returning from his ankle injury via the VFL, reported soreness, and scans showed a stress reaction.
Skipper Callum Mills (foot) could return within two weeks, but Tom Papley (foot) is still four to six weeks away, while Errol Gulden (ankle) is seven to nine weeks off a return.
GWS star Jesse Hogan (calf) and veteran midfielder Stephen Coniglio (glute) are both in the frame to return against the Western Bulldogs, provided they prove their fitness.
Brent Daniels is sidelined for at least three more weeks with an abdominal injury.
Bombers to target Daicos with tag option
Asked how Essendon can stop Nick Daicos, Zach Merrett can only offer a deadpan: “You got any answers?”
The Essendon skipper knows as well as anyone that planning to shut down the superstar Magpie on Anzac Day is one thing, but succeeding is another matter altogether.
Daicos, 22, is enjoying a red-hot start to the AFL season, his unquestionable ability teaming with a relentless work ethic to shake off opposition taggers with ease.
He has averaged 30.8 disposals and 6.8 clearances this season, and is fresh off tearing Brisbane to shreds at the Gabba.
“It’s interesting. I think they set the game up around their stars, and their stars are littered across the field in every line,” Merrett said.
“So obviously every club comes up against Collingwood, Nick Daicos is at the front of the line, but we also know they have a number of other players that we need to put attention into.
“And no doubt the coaches will go to work on that, and we’ll try and execute on those plans.”
A tag is one option coach Brad Scott will be considering in a bid to stop Daicos.
Nick Daicos is corralled by James Jordon. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“We’ll try. He’ll certainly have an opponent, I suspect multiple. We’ll try and learn from others as well,” Scott said.
“But the problem is that whether he’s tagged, not tagged, he’s found a way to be influential.
“So there’s not going to be one sort of mode of attack with him. He’s just like all absolute top-line players – whether they’re tagged or not, they find a way to be influential, and we’re just going to have to curb that.
“Suspect it’s going to be hard to stop him getting the ball, so if your judge is going purely on possessions, that’s going to be a challenge. But that’s not the way we’re going to measure it.”
Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore is delighted with how big-bodied midfielder Ned Long has freed up the likes of Daicos.
Moore has pulled up well after a nasty collision against Brisbane, when Logan Morris pushed him into the path of oncoming teammate Jeremy Howe, who was in a marking contest with Brisbane’s Cam Rayner.
Howe’s knee split the cartilage in his ear, but Moore was cleared of concussion and never feared missing the Anzac Day game.
“I wasn’t really thinking about this week, to be honest, in that moment, just obviously pretty keen to get my ear stitched back onto my head,” Moore said.
“It’s been fine, just had a bit of a cold yesterday, so missed training, but feeling good today.”
with AAP
