AFL star Lachie Neale plays on after suffering ‘scary’ injury

The Lions dominated the first quarter of their clash with fellow premiership heavyweights Geelong, but the Brisbane home crowd was left biting its fingernails when Lachie Neale left the field injured.

The 2020 Brownlow Medallist looked worse for wear after a tackle from Cats forward Jeremy Cameron.

When Neale clutched at his shoulder in agony, punters feared the worst.

He left the field, appearing to have suffered a dislocated right shoulder.

It was a case of déjà vu for the Brisbane faithful; Thursday night’s contest was just Neale’s third game back from an ankle injury that required surgery earlier this year.

“That’s stinging, that shoulder. He’s motioning to the sideline, it doesn’t look good,” said Fox Footy’s James Brayshaw in his call of the game.

“The Brownlow Medallist looks in real discomfort.”

However, the star midfielder showed his tenacity when he re-entered the fray just minutes later to test his injured shoulder.

During the third quarter, Fox Footy’s Tom Morris shared more details of Neale’s injury.

Brisbane flexed its muscles throughout the first term, becoming the first team to hold Geelong to just one point at quarter time since 2012.

Apparently eager to even the ledger after their one-point loss to Geelong in round two, the Lions ripped through the corridor at will.

Lincoln McCarthy helped himself to two majors, while Joe Daniher and Charlie Cameron also kicked it through the big sticks in the opening term.

After kicking the first goal of the second, the Lions became the first team to kick five consecutive goals against Geelong this season and looked on track to hand coach Chris Fagan the perfect belated birthday present.

The Brisbane supremo celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday.

While three consecutive second term goals helped Geelong back into the contest, Brisbane was able to steady the ship and charge out to 34-point halftime lead.

Neither side proved prolific on goal early in the third as time appeared to be getting away from the visitors.