BRISBANE has doubled down on its attempts to lure Fremantle's Lachie Neale across the country, targeting his junior teammate and close friend Lincoln McCarthy from Geelong.

AFL.com.au understands the Lions' need for a small forward has turned Brisbane's attention to the Cats' livewire, who was drafted out of Glenelg with Neale in 2011.

While Neale has established himself as one of the competition's best ball-winners in 135 games, McCarthy has managed just 29 matches in seven seasons after a string of injury setbacks.

It is understood the quality of Brisbane's medical team, led by the highly-respected Peter Blanch and high performance boss Damien Austin, appeals to McCarthy.

McCarthy, out of contract at season's end, will have a fight on his hands to maintain a spot in Geelong's best line-up in 2019 with the expected arrival of Western Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus.

McCarthy was limited to five senior games in his first two seasons at Kardinia Park after foot and back injuries.

Following 19 games in a breakout 2016 campaign, McCarthy succumbed to hip and groin setbacks and played three matches in 2017.

McCarthy will this week line up in Geelong's VFL side in his third match back from a 10-week hamstring injury, pushing his case for a semi-final berth should the Cats' AFL side progress.

Coach Chris Scott admitted this week he would love to rush McCarthy back into the senior side for Friday night's elimination final against Melbourne.

"Yes, I like Lincoln, I do have a bit of a bias towards him. Joel (Selwood) should back that up a little bit," Scott said with a smile.

"The team that we've played probably the last month have been pretty consistent.

"I think it's more likely that Lincoln will get another game at VFL level this week and at least give us something to think about.

"The plan all along was to hope that we could go deep into finals and that he might be able to feature. It's probably just a little bit too soon for Lincoln."

Neale and McCarthy share the same manager in Tim Lawrence of Stride Sports, based in Adelaide. Lawrence was unable to be contacted this week.

Neale, contracted with the Fremantle for 2019, spent last weekend in Brisbane with his fiancée as he contemplates a long-term deal to move to the Lions.