Neale's dad 'worried for him' if ban keeps him from playing grand final

In short:

Lachie Neale's father says the Brisbane Lions star "will be in two minds" about whether to appeal his AFL grand final ban because he would not want to be a distraction.

Robbie Neale said the family was "worried" about the former Brisbane skipper missing the grand final at the end of a tumultuous season.

What's next?

The Lions will reveal whether they appeal today.

Lachie Neale's father says he would like Brisbane to appeal the star Lion's AFL grand final ban, but believes his son will "be in two minds" over it.

Neale copped a one-game suspension for striking Jack Ginnivan during the Lions' stunning preliminary final victory at the MCG on Saturday night.

The club can take the AFL tribunal's decision to the appeals board in the hopes of overturning the ban and allowing Neale to face his former team as the Lions attempt to win a third straight premiership.

Neale's father, Robbie, told ABC Radio Adelaide that the former captain would not want to distract from the week leading up to Saturday afternoon's grand final.

"The club will be meeting this morning, I know that's happening," he said.

"Lachie won't want the distraction for the team, so I think he'll be in two minds this morning as to the way forward. I'm sure he'll get the right advice.

"To me it's just plain wrong, so I hope they do appeal it."

"The last thing Lachie wanted this week was a headline. It's just so disappointing," he added.

The two-time Brownlow medallist has been in the headlines a lot this year, including giving up the captaincy before the season following a widely publicised marriage breakdown.

He was permitted to leave the team at the end of the season and went into Collingwood for a medical ahead of a reported move to the Magpies next year.

Robbie Neale said there had been "fabricated garbage" around Neale, particularly regarding the Collingwood visit during the season.

"He does even amaze me in terms of how he's been able to compartmentalise and just focus on his job and play footy, and he's had a pretty good year," he said.

Neale was also the centre of attention leading up to last year's grand final win over Geelong as he raced the clock to recover from a calf injury.

He ultimately played only the second half, kicking a crucial long-range goal in the third quarter.

"This one [the suspension], we're worried for him, because I know this means everything to him to play in this grand final," Robbie said.

"Easy to say that he's already played in a few, but they've got a chance to create history here."

The Lions are expected to reveal their appeals plans today, with a hearing potentially on Thursday evening.