Lachie Neale has palmed off comparisons with some of the game's greats and declared his family's love for Brisbane after winning a second Brownlow Medal.
Speaking the morning after a win he admits surprised him, the Lions midfielder dismissed talk of a Fremantle return in late 2021 as "a conversation that got a little bit out of hand".
The 30-year-old and wife Jules had their first child barely a month after his possible Brisbane exit was reported, with Neale squashing any last murmurs when he signed a three-year contract extension tying him to the Lions until at least 2026.
"Yes, and the decision wasn't that hard," Neale said ahead of Brisbane's AFL grand final against Collingwood on Saturday.
"I had a conversation that got a little bit out of hand, but I've loved all my five years at the club.
"We were always planning on staying. I'm very happy, love this footy club and the people involved.
"Jules loves Brisbane now as well, calls it home, which is awesome."
Neale is the 16th player to claim multiple Brownlow Medals, joining the likes of Chris Judd, Gary Ablett Jnr, Adam Goodes, Peter Moore and Robert Harvey as a two-time winner.
If Patrick Cripps' suspension hadn't been overturned, Neale would have finished on top of the charts last year. He also finished third in 2019.
Neale has also won the AFL Players Association and AFL Coaches Association top award once each, made three All Australian squads - he was left out of this year's - and five club best-and-fairest awards
Should Brisbane win at the MCG on Saturday, he would be the seventh player to clinch the Brownlow-premiership double, with former Lions Jason Akermanis and Simon Black managing the feat in 2001 and 2002.
"I don't think I'm in that company," Neale deflected.
"I'm very lucky and fortunate to have my name amongst them with this award, but I don't see myself with those guys in terms of status in the game.
"They're Hall-of-Famers, all those guys. I don't really see myself amongst that echelon of player."
LACHIE NEALE'S BROWNLOW RECORD SINCE JOINING BRISBANE
2023: 31 votes - won by two votes
2022: 28 votes - runner-up by one vote to Patrick Cripps, who avoided suspension on appeal
2021: Eight votes
2020: 31 votes - won by 10 votes
2019: 26 votes - equal third, seven votes behind Nat Fyfe
