A resurfaced interview has cast a new light on the origins of the relationship between AFL star Lachie Neale and his now-estranged wife, Jules, revealing she initially rejected the footballer when they were first introduced.
The fateful first meeting
The revelation came from a 2019 Brownlow Medal interview, where Lachie Neale recounted the moment he first met Perth-born hairdresser Jules. The pair were introduced by Fremantle Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich while Lachie was an 18-year-old player for the club.
Lachie recalled asking Pavlich to facilitate the introduction, only to have the Dockers captain return with a blunt message from Jules. "She's not interested in an 18-year-old Harry Styles lookin' kid," was the reported response, as shared by Lachie during the event.
A romance that bloomed years later
Despite the initial rejection, the pair eventually connected romantically. It wasn't until about six years later that Lachie successfully wooed Jules. Their relationship progressed quickly after that; Lachie proposed in 2017, and the couple married the following year in 2018.
They went on to have two children and relocated to Brisbane after Lachie's high-profile move from Fremantle to sign with the Brisbane Lions, where he became a premiership player and co-captain.
The picture-perfect life unravels
The couple's seemingly idyllic life publicly collapsed in December 2025. Jules Neale announced on social media that she had experienced the "ultimate betrayal" in her marriage, strongly implying that former friend Tess Crosley was involved in the scandal.
In the wake of the very public marriage breakdown, Lachie Neale stepped down from his role as co-captain of the Brisbane Lions. He was photographed looking downcast while doing grocery shopping on Thursday, 8 January 2026, as the personal crisis continued to unfold.
The resurfaced interview adds a poignant and ironic layer to the current situation, highlighting how a relationship that began with a rejection blossomed into a seven-year marriage, only to end in a very public and painful separation.
