POLL : Fringe Focus : Lachie McNeil

[Grantysghost]

OK I might regret doing this, 1 due to my adoration of young Lachlan and b, because it might be a lot of work but what the hey!

I thought i'd start a series focussing on our fringe guys and our expectations/thoughts on their futures with the mighty dogs.

I'll set up a poll for each player in the series where you can vote for what you think the future looks like for the player at the dogs at the end of their current contract. Remember the players may access this (well they probably won't but keep it nice ! You keep it nice to quote George Costanza).

Delist, Keep, Keep and change roles. I'll make it pretty simple.

I'll start with a notoriously famous receiver of the woof whip, Lachie McNeil.

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Lachie McNeil grew up in South Australia and cut his teeth playing junior football with the South Clare Demons in the North Eastern Football League, where he featured from under-14s onwards. He progressed into the SANFL system via the Woodville‑West Torrens Football Club (WWT) where he played both junior and senior SANFL football, and represented South Australia in the Under-18 Championships in 2019. His senior breakthrough came at WWT, including a standout grand-final performance in 2020, boosted his draft credentials.

He was then recruited by the Western Bulldogs via the 2020 Rookie Draft (pick 11) and made his AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2021 season.

My thoughts on Lachie are very positive. He plays a role (small forward) which is one of the toughest in the game. He had a breakthrough season late in 2024 where he cemented his spot in the senior side and continued on a positive trajectory into 2025 where he played 21 games and kicked 17 goals. He struggled later in the season after a run of poor games he was dropped to the VFL.

I would love to see him develop into a guy who can play higher, maybe a HF/Wing role in the future. Speaking to him at the end of 24 this was his wish as well. He's a clever humble kid who works hard, and is always trying to better his game.

My vote is : keep and change roles.


Poll Question : At the end of his current contract (end 26) I would like to ...

[Dogs 24/7]

McNeil is a solid player. He doesn't make the most of his chances. I'm happy to keep him and I hope he improves just a bit

[Jasper]

Lets get him into a tagging role. He's too good to be delisted.

[jazzadogs]

I think our side is better if Dolan/Hynes/Arty are playing that pressure forward role, as they have equivalent athletic ability but improved football skills, and McNeill plays less than ten games in 2026.

I voted delist but in reality he will probably get another 1 year contract as mature depth is important.

[Grantysghost]

I think our side is better if Dolan/Hynes/Arty are playing that pressure forward role, as they have equivalent athletic ability but improved football skills, and McNeill plays less than ten games in 2026.

I voted delist but in reality he will probably get another 1 year contract as mature depth is important.

You're officially on my list.

[doggies ftw]

I’ve changed my opinion on McNeil a few times, but unfortunately he’s a ball movement killer. Can’t see him moving further up the field, his ability to win the footy is fine but it’s not just his skills, which are poor, it’s mostly his decision making. Just holds up the footy every time he’s involved in a chain and refuses to make a decision and then when he does it’s 50/50 whether we retain the ball. He’s played enough games now that I don’t think that’s going to improve

Love his endeavour but he makes us a worse team IMO

[hujsh]

His progression tracks okay but I feel like he has a habit of starting a season well and kind of tanking that momentum by the end. 2024 being an exception where he ended the year pretty well. As of right now I think he's in the queue for delisting if Weightman and West have two forward roles locked down. I suspect others will overtake McNeil's spot in the hierarchy sooner than later.

[Grantysghost]

His progression tracks okay but I feel like he has a habit of starting a season well and kind of tanking that momentum by the end. 2024 being an exception where he ended the year pretty well. As of right now I think he's in the queue for delisting if Weightman and West have two forward roles locked down. I suspect others will overtake McNeil's spot in the hierarchy sooner than later.

I agree he does seem to really lose confidence and his form runs in patches.

He had a really bad run mid to the of the season with maybe a good game scattered in.

[Bornadog]

He had 31 scoring shots and 9 Goal assists. He just needs to nail more goals when he gets the opportunity. I would keep him in his current role as I don't see any other roles he can play.

[Grantysghost]

He had 31 scoring shots and 9 Goal assists. He just needs to nail more goals when he gets the opportunity. I would keep him in his current role as I don't see any other roles he can play.

Yeah it was 17.14 wasn't it. He does need to nail those chances.

[Stevo]

I'm more than fine with him. Sure he has some limitations but I wouldn't be in a hurry de-listing him.
Give him until the end of next season and make the call.

[azabob]

My biggest frustration with McNeil is he misses goals he really should kick.

I think he'd struggle to play the wing mainly due to his size. If he had an outstanding trait such as a long penetrating kick his size wouldn't matter so much.

I'd expect him to play minimum ten games in 2026 which would likely earn him another contract.

[westbulldog]

He has played probably 5 good games in his 75. When he is kicking for goal 30m out directly in front it is cringeworthy. Tries hard but not up to it.

[Sedat]

This is not to disparage McNeill's career and what he has been able to achieve (he plays a thankless role that is low possession and thus easy to ignore and hard to win over), but if others haven't gone past him in that high half-forward role next year we are treading water and going backwards as a club. I'm happy to throw VDM into that conversation as well. These two are so far off the pace of the same role players at the current contending clubs. We need Dolan, Hynes, Weightman stepping up (from injury in Weightman's case) and commanding these roles alongside West - then we are starting to develop depth and quality in that crucial high half-forward area that can match the contenders. McNeill and VDM both have a ceiling and it has already been reached IMO.

I will say this about McNeill (and VDM for that matter). Both were in our best half a dozen or so players in that disaster EF against Hawthorn last year. It would be nice if some of our notional stars could elevate their game against the better teams - there's quite a list of otherwise gun players who seem to save their worst for finals/big games, and that is a bigger problem for us than the 22nd/23rd player picked who are far easier whipping boy targets.

[Grantysghost]

He has played probably 5 good games in his 75. When he is kicking for goal 30m out directly in front it is cringeworthy. Tries hard but not up to it.

5 is maybe a little harsh - it's 6

No I think it's more but I get your point - he can go missing and so it seems like he's not doing much. I think his work without the ball is not appreciated enough (by fans).