What would the Brisbane Lions have done if Lachie Neale was suspended in the end?

The two-time Brownlow Medallist and former club captain was cleared by the AFL Appeals Board on Thursday after a tumultuous week.

But if Neale was rubbed out for the gut punch on Jack Ginnivan, who would have replaced him in the 23 for Saturday’s Grand Final against Fremantle?

Back-to-back premiership coach Chris Fagan says defender Noah Answerth, who missed both the Semi and Preliminary Finals with an ankle injury, would have come in for Neale.

That scenario would have forced a few positional changes for Jaspa Fletcher and Hugh McCluggage as well.

“It was simple as this - if Lachie hadn’t have played Noah would have,” Fagan said on SEN Tassie Breakfast.

“We would have moved ‘Fletch’ (Fletcher) up to the wing, put Noah into the back-end of the ground and played Hugh McCluggage inside more than we have the last few weeks.

“That’s what we were planning to do.”

Fagan admits the unlucky Answerth is a favourite of his and is devastated to see him miss out after playing 16 games in 2026.

“As happy as I am for Lachie, I’m desperately sad for Noah Answerth,” he added.

“I know coaches shouldn’t have favourites. He’s one of mine.

“He’s such a great team player who has earned his position in the team. So has everybody else with the way we want to structure up.

“I know we could take this bloke out and out this bloke in, but we’ve played well over the last two weeks and we’ve got a squad that’s not injured so why change it.”

There will be 21 Lions players on Saturday who have already played in at least one Grand Final.

The two who are yet to feature in a season decider are off-season recruits Sam Draper and Oscar Allen.

Fagan spoke of the impact the former Essendon ruckman and West Coast key forward have had on the Lions lineup of late.

“They’re the only two blokes who haven’t played in a Grand Final, would you believe,” the Lions coach said.

“They’ve been a great and positive influence. Draper brings so much energy with his ruck work and his run and his capacity to hit the scoreboard.

“Oscar Allen has probably copped a bit of flak. His numbers don’t look amazing, but what he does to create opportunities for Logan Morris, Eric Hipwood and co.

“You only see that if you watch the tape closely. It’s no surprise that since he’s been back in the team our scoring has really lifted.

“He’s a very important player to us and a great leader in that forward line.”

The Lions are favourites to complete the three-peat which would make Fagan just the seventh coach to win three or more flags on the trot.

“Not many teams get to do it,” he said further.

“To do it, I’m sure it will be one of those things that you don’t think about as much now.

“But when you get together you can look back and go, ‘How good was that, how hard was that to do, and I was so glad I was part of it’.”