Brisbane coach Chris Fagan believes Lachie Neale is playing better football than in his Brownlow Medal season, owing largely to his improved offensive output.
Neale was a runaway winner of the game's most prestigious individual honour in 2020 and has been in outstanding form again throughout the first half of this season.
The 29-year-old midfielder is averaging 32.1 disposals and almost one goal a game, having starred with 39 touches and two majors in the Lions' win over GWS last week.
Neale sits second behind Melbourne's Clayton Oliver in the AFL Coaches Association's player of the year award and is firmly in contention to win a second Brownlow.
"He had a pretty special year that year (2020) so it's going to be hard to top it, but I think he's more dangerous going forward these days," Fagan told Fox Footy.
"He's hitting the scoreboard a bit himself and getting a bit more involved in the score assists.
"I always think the great players in the game do a lot of damage in the front half of the ground and Lachie's certainly starting to do a bit of that."
Neale's form has been crucial in Brisbane's rise to second spot ahead of a clash with third-placed Fremantle - his old side - at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Fagan has weighed into the controversy surrounding the decision not to pay a 50m penalty against Chad Warner during the chaotic climax to Sydney's narrow win over Richmond last Friday night.
Tiger Dion Prestia was awarded a free kick about 70m from goal just before the final siren sounded at the SCG.
Warner gathered the ball and booted it into the crowd after the siren, having not heard the whistle for the free kick.
It led to appeals from Richmond players for a 50m penalty that would have put Prestia within scoring range.
But umpires rejected their pleas and Sydney won by six points.
"I was pretty happy that a 50m penalty wasn't paid in that instance," Fagan said.
"I would've thought that would've been a bit of a tragic result, to be honest.
"Technically it may have been there but I think common sense prevailed, and I'm glad that it did."
