Brisbane Lions superstar Lachie Neale is set to miss the AFL grand final against Fremantle through suspension for a behind-the-play hit on Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan in Saturday’s pulsating preliminary final.Neale has been handed a one-match ban over the incident, but the Lions have confirmed they will challenge that ban at the tribunal, setting up a dramatic week for Neale to cap a year in which his tumultuous personal life dominated headlines.If the suspension stands, Neale would not only miss the Lions’ shot at a rare premiership hat-trick, it would mean he has likely played his last game for the club.The two-time Brownlow Medal winner and premiership star is widely expected to join Collingwood as a free agent in the off-season.Vision of the incident shows Ginnivan wrestling with Lions forward Eric Hipwood, before Neale jogs over and floors the Hawthorn player with a swinging left-arm to the midriff.The low-resolution footage does not clearly show whether his fist made contact with Ginnivan – which would be a clear case of striking – or whether his arm simply knocks the Hawks forward over, which may see him escape suspension. Brisbane Lions superstar Lachie Neale faces missing the AFL grand final against Fremantle, bracing for a suspension over the gut punch that floored Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan Neale is set to be handed a one-match ban over the incident, which occurred during the Lions’ nine-point win in an epic preliminary final on Saturday night. Neale (second from right) is pictured celebrating with Darcy Fort, Levi Ashcroft, coach Chris Fagan, and Charlie CameronAdelaide forward Riley Thilthorpe and Hawthorn pair James Sicily and Dylan Moore have all been suspended over similar incidents this season.It comes after former Lions CEO Greg Swann – in his new role as AFL football boss – brought in a minimum one-match penalty for gut punches.One avenue open to the Lions is to appeal for clemency from the tribunal as Neale has never been suspended in his 320-game career.Earlier this season, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury had a one-game suspension downgraded to a fine because he had never been banned in over 400 games, and the Lions could offer that as a precedent in asking the tribunal for leniency. The see-sawing preliminary final ended in controversy when a holding-the-ball free paid against Hawthorn’s Jarman Impey saw Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage kick the go-ahead goal with 20 seconds left.Hawks defenders Sicily and Tom Barrass had angry words with umpires immediately after the siren and face being fined for misconduct as a result. Neale and new girlfriend Emma Field were seen at a Melbourne cafe ahead of Saturday’s preliminary final. Neale celebrated last year’s premiership win with wife Jules (right) and friend Tess Crosley (left). The subsequent relationship between Neale and Crosley led to Jules Neale leaving the marital home and taking the kids with her.Furious Hawthorn fans threw bottles onto the field, with some directly targeting umpires as they walked from the field. The potential grand final suspension caps a year in which Neale has rarely been out of the headlines following the break-up of his marriage to Jules Neale, the mother of their two children.Neale’s relationship with Tess Crosley, who had previously been a close friend of Jules, saw the marriage implode.She moved back to Perth, taking the couple’s two young children with her, and Neale stood down as Brisbane captain as the off-field controversy swirled.Neale told a media conference: ‘I’ve let my family down, and I apologise for my actions which have hurt those closest to me, and for that, I am deeply sorry’.Despite the off-field distraction, 33-year-old Neale has enjoyed another strong season and is set to earn a new contract with Collingwood, as the Lions look to ease their salary cap strain and spend their money on re-signing younger stars.