Brisbane Lions champion Lachie Neale has publicly addressed the personal turmoil surrounding his marriage, confirming his separation from wife Jules and relinquishing his role as the club's co-captain.
Public Apology and Leadership Step Down
In a press conference held on the morning of Friday, 2 January 2026, the 32-year-old dual Brownlow Medallist expressed deep regret for his actions, though he declined to answer directly when asked if he had cheated on his wife. Neale confirmed the couple's separation, stating he had "let my family down" and apologised for the hurt caused.
"While I won't go into specifics, I can say that I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions which has hurt those closest to me. For that I am deeply sorry," Neale said.
As a consequence, Neale announced his immediate resignation from the Lions' leadership group and his position as co-captain, a role he shared with Harris Andrews for three seasons. During his tenure, the Lions reached three consecutive Grand Finals, securing premierships in 2024 and 2025.
Social Media Storm and Family Focus
The Neales' private life became public fodder in December 2025 after Jules Neale took to social media to contradict reports the pair were "working through" their issues. She posted that she had been "betrayed in the most unimaginable way" and subsequently stopped following Neale and family friend Tess Crosley online.
Jules has since relocated to Perth with the couple's two children. The situation escalated when she publicly commented on a photo Tess Crosley had kept posted of the Lions' 2025 premiership celebrations, telling her to "Take these down, you idiot you're embarrassing yourself."
Neale emphasised that his primary focus is now his family. "I need to focus on re-building that trust with Jules, as the future well being of our children remains our number one priority," he stated.
Football Future and Club Support
The personal crisis throws Neale's illustrious football future into uncertainty. His contract with the Brisbane Lions expires at the end of the 2026 season. When pressed on where he would play in 2027, Neale admitted, "I haven't really considered that yet."
He reaffirmed his commitment to the Lions for the upcoming season, saying, "I'm going to be here for this season coming up. I'm fully committed to putting everything I can into footy."
The club, through General Manager of Football Danny Daly, pledged support for both Lachie and Jules, thanking Neale for his leadership and asking for privacy for the family. The Lions must now decide whether to appoint a new co-captain to partner Harris Andrews or proceed with a sole skipper, with vice-captains Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley likely in consideration.
Neale, who began his AFL career with 135 games at Fremantle, has become one of Brisbane's most decorated players, winning two Brownlow Medals, four club best-and-fairest awards, and four All-Australian blazers since his move north.
