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1 min read

AFL tribunal live updates: ‘No sympathy’ for Neale as grand final fate hangs in balance

Welcome to nine.com.au’s live coverage of the Lachie Neale tribunal hearing, as he looks to play in the AFL grand final.
AFL tribunal live updates: ‘No sympathy’ for Neale as grand final fate hangs in balance

Thanks for tuning into our LIVE coverage of the Lachie Neale hearing.

We’ll update our MAIN WRAP with the full findings and reasons from the tribunal.

Lachie Neale, obviously respectful of the process, sat motionless while that 10-minute explanation was read out. No reaction when the ban was upheld.

After a long explanation, Lachie Neale has been found GUILTY. He’ll miss the grand final.

AFL tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson described Neale’s act as a “strike to the guts”.

The tribunal has now deliberated for over two hours.

You can now watch Nine’s Footy Classified panel discuss the hearing, before it’s even ended.

“A grand final doesn’t go this long,” Eddie McGuire said.

We are at four-hour territory now.

Granted they did start a few minutes later than the 5pm (AEST) schedule but this is definitely going past the four-hour mark. And it’s creeping towards two hours of deliberation too.

If deliberations normally went on this long, maybe we can get some music entertainment or something. Comic relief. Anything.

Bring on Kylie Minogue for a grand final rehearsal.

Very much appreciate everyone staying tuned in on this.

Unfortunately, I can only say that ... the tribunal is still deliberating.

While we continue to wait, here’s a lovely piece on the Dockers fans making it across the Nullarbor.

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It was published on September 22, 2026 and last updated on October 9, 2026. The time of the story is shown in your own time zone on the page.

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