Injured Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott has commented on the club’s pursuit of Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale.

SEN's Tom Morris (see full story below) reported on the weekend that Neale was at the KGM Centre last Friday to tour the Magpies’ facilities.

Elliott says the club is all about getting better, so if they have to look at top players from rival clubs then that’s what they’ll do.

“We run the motto of ‘we want to get better’, so if that’s looking at players that can make us better in any regard then obviously we want to look at those players,” Elliott said on SEN Breakfast.

“That’s not my role to talk on in terms of list management or how we want to look at next year by adding to the list.

“But we want to make our list better and he’s a phenomenal player.”

The gun forward admits Neale’s appearance, while it occurred on a day off for the Pies, created a “bit of chatter” in the locker room after the fact.

Elliott experienced what Neale did back in 2019 when he toured the Lions’ facilities when he was coming out of contract at Collingwood.

But he remained at the Pies and went on to win the 2023 Grand Final over Neale and Brissie.

The 33-year-old Elliott, who ruptured his ACL against West Coast in Round 11, is now nine weeks post surgery and rehabbing to be fit for the start of the 2027 campaign.

Meanwhile, Neale is preparing for Brisbane's blockbuster Friday night clash with Hawthorn at the Gabba as they chase a three-peat.

Andrew Slevison

"Could have done it Sunday"

Earlier this week, Lions veteran Dayne Zorko addresses Neale's tour of the Pies.

The Lions star is weighing up his future amid speculation he will move to Victoria next season after seven years in Queensland.

Asked for his opinion on the timing of the visit, Zorko conceded the optics would have been better if it happened after their clash against the Blues, but stopped short of criticising Neale.

"It’s not normal practice in years gone by but this is the new age of the sport we live in," Zorko told SENQ Breakfast. "It’s a business.

"There was an opportunity for him to go through, but I don’t know I haven’t spoken to him about it but I don’t think its unusual these days we see it in other codes and it will filter into AFL, but we wont use it as an excuse as to why we played so poorly.

"It is what it is; we understand the AFL and players market is big business. Distractions will always come out as a cause but it’s of no relevance to how a team plays."

Asked if it's something he would have done were he looking for another club, Zorko added: "Thankfully I’m not in that position and probably not, but each to their own, he was down there.

"He didn’t do it secretly, it’s not unknown that Collingwood want to have him so it’s not a shock.

"Could he have done it Sunday? Potentially, but it doesn’t matter when he does it, it is what it is."

Cornes: Lions would be “furious”

Zorko was cooler about the news than Kane Cornes who suggested the Lions would be “furious” that Neale toured the Pies HQ the day before a game.

Cornes discussed the situation with Morris and David King on Monday morning.

He does not believe the Lions would be overly happy with a star midfielder looking elsewhere while their season reaches an important juncture.

“You’re telling me he toured Friday at Collingwood, and then played Saturday,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“I can’t stand it, I can’t stand it.

“You’ve got a chance to be in absolute rare air and win three premierships in a row, you’re fighting for a top four position to do that - and the day before a game you’re at another club’s facility.

“I cannot stand it.”

Morris: “It’s just the modern game though, isn’t it? He’s an unrestricted free agent, he can do whatever he wants.”

Cornes: “He can do whatever he wants, but is that the best thing for him and his team to play well?

“I wouldn’t have thought so.”

Morris: “What if he tours the day after a game? Do you have an issue with that?”

Cornes: “Slightly better than the day before.

“But why don’t you just wait until the end of the year? There’s plenty of time.”

King: “You can walk and chew gum. You can actually compartmentalise setting up next year.

“‘I’ve got things to do while I’m in Melbourne. I’ve got to go and see these people about the opportunity that’s in front of me and I want to check out their facilities’.

“I think you can do that. You’ve got to set your life up. You’ve got to be organised and planned.”

Cornes: “There’s a way you can do it which is respectful.

“You can take a phone call. There’s a difference between taking a phone call and touring a rival club’s facility the day before a game, and then that becomes public.

“I’m not sure if that is in the best interests of his footy club. I bet you if you ask Chris Fagan and those at Brisbane - whilst publicly they will say they don’t haven issue with it - I reckon they’d be furious.

“If you deep down ask Chris Fagan what he really thought of his star player at another team’s facilities the day before a game - I bet you Chris Fagan, if he was honest, would be not that happy.”

Neale tours Collingwood

By Tom Morris

Brisbane champion Lachie Neale toured Collingwood’s state of the art training facility last week as he nears a decision on his future.

It is understood Neale, 33, was shown through the AIA Centre on Friday.

Neale landed in Melbourne from Brisbane on Thursday evening and played in the Lions loss to Carlton on Saturday night.

An unrestricted free agent, he is weighing up a move to Collingwood, who are willing to spend significant money to bring him in on a three-year contract.

West Coast and Adelaide have also expressed interest but are seen as less likely than the Pies, who have made no secret of their desire to attract elite talent.

A two-time Brownlow medallist, Neale can move to a club of his choice. He has family in WA, South Australia and Victoria.

Collingwood has thrown itself in the Zak Butters race, but is still seen as a distant fourth option behind the Dogs, Richmond and Geelong for the Port star.

Butters still hasn’t made up his mind as he weighs up the prospect of immediate success, money and whether Port will be adequately compensated for his departure.