BRISBANE star Lachie Neale says "hopefully all the attention is off me" now that he has been cleared to play in Saturday's Grand Final against Fremantle.

Neale sensationally had his one-match ban dismissed at the AFL Appeal Board on Thursday night after a two-and-a-half hour hearing, with his "exemplary" record of having never previously been suspended in 320 games affording him the benefit of the "exceptional and compelling circumstances" provision.

Neale buried his head in his hands for several moments when the verdict was read out and said "thank you, Mr Chairman" as the meeting ended.

He then briefly spoke to the media outside the Lions' hotel, thanking the club for their support and saying "absolutely" when asked if the $10,000 fine imposed upon him - instead of a ban - was worth it.

"I'm obviously very happy with the Appeal Board's decision," he said.

"I'm looking forward to playing in the Grand Final now. I just want to thank the club; (footy boss) Danny (Daly), everyone involved through the process and helping me play this weekend, and the AFL Appeal Board for their decision.

"After this, hopefully all the attention is off me and we get ready to play on Saturday in the Grand Final.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking. And I was in pretty foreign territory so I wasn't really sure what to do with myself. I've been trying to keep busy and thankfully coming down here and training and having the boys around has been great.

"I wouldn't say I've got a bigger point to prove. I just want to play my part and win on Saturday.

"It'll be a difficult challenge against Freo but hopefully we can do it."

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said a Brisbane official had told him before the hearing that the club had expected the verdict to go against them.

"They felt that they had a 15 per cent chance of getting off, so they would be ecstatic. They said 'we're not hopeful at all'," Lloyd said on Channel Nine.

"I agree with the decision ... I think it was too big a penalty to pay, to miss a Grand Final for an act like that. Yes, it was silly but it was the right decision."