Fremantle were stunned when reports emerged last month that Lachie Neale was being courted heavily by the Brisbane Lions.

The Dockers were even more surprised when Neale walked into the office of CEO Steve Rosich and told them of his desire to get to the Lions.

They shouldn’t have been.

Neale signed a three-year contract extension in 2016, agreeing to terms before the round-14 clash with Collingwood.

After a disastrous 0-10 start to the season, the Dockers had begun to turn their season around with three wins in a row, which was followed by the announcement of Neale’s crucial signature.