League (WAFL), Neale made his debut in round 4 of the 2012 AFL season against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium as the substitute. He was activated during the third quarter, replacing Nick Suban. After his debut, Neale played through until round 14. He played one further game in round 20. Across the season, he averaged 11.3 disposals, 1.6 marks and 2.1 tackles per game. In the 2013 season he improved, averaging 19.8 disposals, 3.3 marks and 1.7 tackles per game. Neale was the substitute in the 2013 AFL Grand Final when Fremantle lost to Hawthorn by 15 points. Neale's 2016 season was rewarded with the Doig Medal as the club best and fairest. Brisbane Lions (2019-) At the conclusion of the 2018 season, after winning a second Doig Medal, Neale requested a trade to Brisbane. He was traded on 17 October. Neale thrived at his new club in 2019, winning All-Australian team selection for the first time, winning his first Merrett-Murray Medal and finishing equal-third in the Brownlow Medal with 26 votes. Neale had an excellent start to the 2020 season, with him being deemed the best player in the league by the ABC's Dean Bilton prior to round 6. Neale won the 2020 Brownlow Medal after polling 31 votes during the shortened regular season, including being best-on-ground in ten matches. This result put Neale in front of 2nd-placed Travis Boak by 10 votes, the equal highest win in Brownlow Medal history since the introduction of the 3-2-1 voting system. Neale's 2020 season success was also compounded by All-Australian selection, a Merrett-Murray Medal and the Leigh Matthews Trophy, amongst various other awards. Neale's 2022 season was yet another season of success, taking home a third All-Australian blazer and winning a third Merrett-Murray Medal, as well as placing second in the Brownlow Medal, missing out on first place by a singular vote. On 1 March 2023, Neale was named co-captain of the Lions alongside Harris Andrews. Statistics Updated to the end of the 2022 season. |- | 2012 || || 27 | 11 || 4 || 2 || 51 || 73 || 124 || 18 || 23 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 4.6 || 6.6 || 11.3 || 1.6 || 2.1 || 0 |- | 2013 || || 27 | 12 || 8 || 4 || 111 || 126 || 237 || 40 || 20 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 9.2