Brisbane’s pursuit of Lachie Neale has taken a slightly left-field turn, with the club reportedly pursuing one of his best friends in a bid to strengthen their pitch for the Fremantle ball magnet.

Multiple outlets are reporting the Lions are planning to extend an offer to injury-prone Geelong forward Lincoln McCarthy, who played with Neale at Glenelg before they were both drafted in 2011. It is believed the pair remain close friends.

A long list of injuries have limited the out-of-contract McCarthy to 29 games in his seven seasons on the Cats’ list and just two this season.

The talent he has shown in his limited appearances at the elite level means there is a good chance Geelong would want to extend his contract beyond this year, however the likely arrival of Luke Dalhaus as a free agent this off-season means he may struggle to lock down a place in the side next year.

Neale is still contracted to the Dockers for one more year, and the club have made it clear they intend to keep him and are willing to offer him more money from next season in a long-term extension.

Don't miss the latest sports news! Was $13 now $7 per week for 12 weeks* (Digital + Print) Enjoy unlimited access to thewest.com.au and everyday digital editions on any device. Thursday - Monday papers home delivered with all of the latest footy news! *T&Cs apply

However it is understood the 25-year-old, who has not requested a trade but visited Brisbane at the weekend with his fiancee, has yet to make up his mind about where his future lies.