Recruited by St Kilda as a nineteen-year-old, ,  ruckman, Neale played his first match for St Kilda against North Melbourne on 22 May 1965 (round 6), as a back-pocket/ruckman. He initially played in the backline (as the first change, resting in the back-pocket ruckman), but was moved to full-forward in 1966. He was selected as the back-pocket ruckman in St Kilda's "Team of the Century" in May 2001.
Recruited by St Kilda at age nineteen, Neale made his debut for the club against North Melbourne on May 22, 1965, as a back-pocket/ruckman. He started in the backline (as the first change, filling the back-pocket ruckman position), but was later moved to full-forward in 1966. In 2001, he was chosen for St Kilda's "Team of the Century" as a back-pocket ruckman.