Brownlow favourite Neale avoids charge

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Brisbane midfielder and Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale has avoided a rough conduct charge for his tackle on Sydney's Nick Blakey.

LACHIE NEALE poses during the Brisbane Lions AFL team photo day at The Gabba in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale's Brownlow Medal charge is alive and well after he avoided a charge for a tackle on Sydney's Nick Blakey.

Midfielder Neale's lunging tackle on Blakey in the third quarter of Sunday's game raised eyebrows but on Monday the match review officer cleared Neale of rough conduct.

Three other charges were laid though with Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith (rough conduct), Adelaide small forward Shane McAdam (striking) and Hawthorn's Blake Hardwick (strike) all able to escape with fines with early guilty pleas.