The woman at the heart of the marriage breakdown between Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and his wife Jules has publicly broken her silence for the first time. Tess Crosley, a former friend of Jules, was confronted by reporters this week, offering a brief but telling response to questions about the scandal that has rocked the AFL community.
Confrontation Caught on Camera
In a video captured by the Daily Mail on Tuesday the 13th of January, 2026, Tess Crosley was seen in the driver's seat of a black SUV in Perth. A reporter approached her vehicle, which had its window partially down, to ask about her involvement with Lachie Neale. When asked if she wanted to say anything about the Brownlow medallist, a smiling Crosley replied, "No, I have to make an appointment."
The reporter persisted, inquiring if she was back home with her husband, Ben Crosley, and attempting to reconcile. To this, Crosley simply stated, "No comment... thank you, bye, see ya!" She did not appear visibly flustered during the exchange, maintaining her composure throughout the brief encounter.
The Betrayal That Ended a Seven-Year Marriage
The public drama began to unfold when Jules Neale, who is originally from Western Australia, demanded that Tess Crosley remove photos from social media. The images were from the 2025 AFL Grand Final and featured both couples celebrating Brisbane's victory. Shortly after this demand and the apparent end of their friendship, Jules posted a powerful statement on Instagram addressing widespread rumours.
Jules explicitly stated she was not "working through" issues in the marriage, but instead declared, "I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way." She added that her focus was on healing and doing what was best for her two children.
Following this, Lachie Neale confirmed the separation in a press conference at Lions headquarters earlier this month. The two-time Brownlow Medal winner confessed to letting his family down, saying, "While I won’t go into specifics, I can say that I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions that have let down those that are closest to me. For that I am deeply sorry." As a consequence, he stepped down from his role as co-captain of the Brisbane Lions.
Fallout and New Beginnings
The practical realities of the split quickly became evident. On the same day as his public apology, Lachie was photographed looking downcast while moving personal items, including shoes and kitchen utensils, from the marital home in Seven Hills, Brisbane. He is believed to have relocated to a new apartment.
Jules has reportedly moved back to her hometown of Perth with the couple's two children, leaving the life they built in Queensland behind. Meanwhile, Tess Crosley has remained active on her social media accounts throughout the controversy. Her posts have included photos from Christmas with her son and celebrations for her 30th birthday in Adelaide. Notably, her husband Ben, whom she married in 2017, has been absent from her posted photos over the past month.
The situation continues to develop, with the personal lives of those involved now under an intense and unforgiving public spotlight.
