Lachie Neale: Affair, Apology, and Separation FAQ

Few things hit harder than a public fall from grace, especially when you’re the one holding the microphone. Lachie Neale, two-time Brownlow Medal winner and Brisbane Lions captain, stepped down from his leadership role in early 2025 after admitting his marriage to Jules Neale had broken down.

Age: 31 (born 24 May 1993) ·
AFL Clubs: Fremantle (2012–2018), Brisbane Lions (2019–present) ·
Brownlow Medals: 2 (2020, 2023) ·
Games Played: 309 ·
Height: 177 cm ·
Instagram Followers: 106,000+

Six key biographical facts, one pattern: the private story is often hidden behind the public success.

What has happened with Lachie Neale and his wife?

The answer is both straightforward and devastating: Lachie Neale publicly confirmed in early 2025 that he and his wife Jules had separated. In a statement to 7NEWS, he said he took full responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage and stood down as Brisbane co-captain effective immediately. He apologised to Jules and his children, asking for privacy as they navigate the aftermath.

Apology and media statement

• Neale released a statement saying he was “extremely sorry” for the pain he caused (7NEWS)
• He specifically asked that Jules and their children be left alone to heal (7NEWS)

Separation from wife Jules

• According to 7NEWS, Jules and the couple’s children have moved home to Perth
• Jules later described herself as having been “betrayed in the most unimaginable way” (The Nightly)

The implication: the public statement effectively confirmed the core of media reports before any formal admission of infidelity.

How did Lachie Neale get found out?

The unraveling began with media reports that an alleged affair had taken place between Neale and Tess Crosley, a woman described in reports as a close friend of Jules. The story broke over Christmas 2024, when Jules publicly announced the end of her marriage and later made subtle allegations of betrayal involving a former friend (The Nightly).

Details of the affair with Tess Crosley

• Reports allege the affair began in late 2023 or early 2024, although Neale has not publicly confirmed infidelity (The Nightly)
• Tess Crosley is married to Ben Crosley; her husband later said she had moved out of their Brisbane home and was first spotted back on 20 January (The Nightly)

Media reports and photographic evidence

• The Nightly detailed how the story emerged through a series of media investigations
• Photographs of Neale and Crosley together reportedly surfaced, though no explicit images have been published

What this means: the lack of an explicit admission leaves room for interpretation, but the captaincy change was the clearest signal of personal turmoil.

Is Tess Crosley still with her husband?

As of the latest reports, the status of Tess Crosley’s marriage to Ben Crosley remains unclear. Ben Crosley said in a statement that Tess had moved back to their Brisbane home on 20 January, but her social media comments have been disabled and she has not addressed her marital status directly (The Nightly).

Tess Crosley’s marriage status

• Tess Crosley is married to Ben Crosley, but recent reports suggest they may be living separately (The Nightly)
• She was photographed smiling on a Gold Coast beach in early February, apparently continuing her normal routine (PerthNow)

Impact of the affair on Crosley family

• The Crosley family have not released any official statement
• Ben Crosley’s reaction has not been publicly detailed beyond his brief comment about Tess’s return (The Nightly)

The pattern: public silence from the Crosley family suggests the situation remains fluid and private.

How old are Lachie Neale’s kids?

The exact ages of Lachie and Jules Neale’s children have not been publicly confirmed. However, reports indicate they are young and their privacy has been a central request from Neale’s public statement (7NEWS).

Children’s ages and privacy

• Jules and Lachie have multiple children, all under the age of 10 based on the timeline of their marriage
• After the separation, Jules moved the children to Perth to be closer to her family (7NEWS)

The catch: the request for privacy underscores the tension between public figures and their families’ right to anonymity.

What did Lachie Neale do to separate from his wife?

Neale’s own words make it clear: he admitted to an affair and expressed deep remorse. In his statement to 7NEWS, he said he took full responsibility and had put measures in place to work on himself and focus on rebuilding trust. The separation was a direct consequence of his actions.

Admitted infidelity

• Neale did not explicitly use the word “affair” in his statement, but he acknowledged actions that led to the breakdown (7NEWS)
• Media reports consistently describe the relationship with Tess Crosley as the cause (The Nightly)

Public apology and its aftermath

• Neale apologised publicly, saying he was “extremely sorry” for the pain caused to Jules and his children (7NEWS)
• He stepped down as Brisbane co-captain effective immediately, citing the personal turmoil (7NEWS)

The pattern: the apology and captaincy resignation together formed the most significant public signal of Neale’s accountability.

Are Lachie Neale and Abbey Holmes friends?

Abbey Holmes is a media personality and former AFLW player who has known the Neale family socially. She spoke out publicly in support of Jules, not Lachie, making it clear where her allegiance lies.

Abbey Holmes’ relationship with the Neale family

• Holmes expressed support for Jules on social media, calling her a “strong woman” (The Nightly)
• She is considered a friend of Jules, not of Lachie, and has not publicly commented on the affair directly

The implication: Holmes’ public stance highlights the social divisions within the circle of friends affected by the scandal.

For a more in-depth look at the full timeline and public reaction, check out the Lachie Neale affair scandal details on Australian Watch.

Frequently asked questions