How Lachie Neale may play in the AFL grand final despite punching a player in the guts

Lachie Neale's bid to save his grand final dream has sparked a warning that the AFL's rules could be 'manipulated', as a new photograph shows the Brisbane star celebrating with girlfriend Emma Field.

The dual Brownlow medallist faces missing Saturday's decider against his former club Fremantle after receiving a one-match suspension for punching Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan.

Brisbane will challenge the ban, with Neale's spotless suspension record across 320 games emerging as a possible lifeline.

But St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt warned players who served bans for similar incidents this season would be 'filthy' if the Lions midfielder had his suspension overturned.

Neale struck Ginnivan in the stomach during the first quarter of Saturday night's preliminary final, stepping in as the Hawks forward wrestled with Brisbane teammate Eric Hipwood.

The incident was graded as intentional conduct, body contact and medium impact.

That left the 33-year-old facing the prospect of watching Brisbane chase a third consecutive premiership from the sidelines.

The uncertainty followed a happier moment in the Lions' rooms, where Neale posed with Field and her friend Gabrielle Scalzi after the win.

The couple were first spotted together at Brisbane Airport in early August. Neale later shared a photograph of Field, with her back to the camera, on his Instagram Stories.

Now attention has turned to whether his disciplinary history can rescue his grand final hopes.

AFL regulations allow a player with an exemplary record to argue that it amounts to 'exceptional and compelling circumstances'.

Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury successfully relied on his record to avoid a suspension for a bump earlier this season. Riewoldt said Brisbane could pursue a similar argument.

'You can make the same argument that missing a grand final is compelling and exceptional circumstances,' he said.

'So any time you have these subjective rules that the AFL does have, then there's an opportunity for those to be manipulated.

'I think that's Brisbane's best chance of getting him off. But you're right, the players that have served a week for those sort of incidents this year, they'd be filthy if Lachie gets off.'

Hawthorn's James Sicily and Dylan Moore, along with Adelaide forward Riley Thilthorpe, are among those suspended for stomach strikes this season.

The exemplary-record provision is separate from the scrapped 'good bloke' clause, which allowed character references to be used at the tribunal.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel offered a less optimistic assessment. 

'It doesn't look good,' he said.

'It may go in his favour the fact that he [Neale] has played over 300 games.

'They will look at it, see if they can find better footage and I know Brisbane will try their absolute best to get off … but it's not looking good for him.

'Who knows, it's grand final week.'

Brisbane could also seek to have the impact grading reduced from medium to low, according to Nine.

The hearing is expected on Tuesday night.

The football drama comes after months of scrutiny surrounding Neale's personal life following his split from estranged wife Jules last December.

But his immediate concern is another agonising grand final week after a calf injury threatened his involvement last year.

He eventually played as the substitute against Geelong, collecting 17 disposals and kicking a goal as Brisbane secured back-to-back premierships.

READ MORE: Lachie Neale faces shock ban from AFL Grand Final after spiteful clash against Hawthorn: Star may have played his last game for Lions