Australian rules football has been engulfed by scandal after Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale was discovered in a compromising situation with Tess Crosley, a married neighbour who had been among his wife’s closest friends.
The 32-year-old, regarded as one of the sport’s most decorated players, has since relinquished his captaincy following the exposure of the affair with the former Mormon missionary.
His seven-year marriage to Jules, 35, has subsequently fallen apart, with the couple spending the festive period on opposite sides of the country.
The revelation has captivated Australia, with fresh details emerging daily about what Jules herself characterised as an “unimaginable betrayal” at the hands of her husband and confidante.
The pair were reportedly discovered in a clinch inside a car by another teammate’s partner, who agonised over whether to inform Jules before ultimately deciding to share the devastating news.
Although sources close to Neale initially suggested the encounter was an isolated incident, reports indicate the secret relationship had actually been ongoing for more than three months, according to the Daily Mail.
Jules, a hairdresser and influencer, swiftly dismissed speculation that the couple might reconcile.
Lachie Neale pictured with Tess Crosley’s husband
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“I want to make it very clear that I am not ‘working through’ anything,” she wrote on social media.
“I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way. All I can do now is to heal and do what’s best for my children.”
She also publicly confronted Crosley online, demanding she remove photographs from Instagram and calling her “an idiot.”
Tess Crosley and Lachie Neale’s wife, Jules, pictured together
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On January 2, Neale addressed the media from the club’s headquarters, his voice trembling as he confirmed the separation.
“I have let my family down, and I apologise for my actions, which have hurt those closest to me – and for that, I am deeply sorry,” he stated, announcing his immediate resignation as co-captain and from the leadership group.
When questioned directly about infidelity, the footballer responded: “I cannot address those rumours.”
The couple now appear to be dividing their assets, with removal lorries spotted at their £1.8 million property in Brisbane’s Seven Hills suburb.
Neale has relocated to a city apartment, whilst Jules remains in her native Perth with their two children, four-year-old daughter Piper and son Freddie, who recently celebrated his first birthday.
The couple’s history stretches back to their teenage years in Perth, where they first crossed paths before Neale had established himself in professional football.
Lachie Neale is one of the AFL’s biggest names
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GETTY
In a 2019 interview, the player recalled his initial attempt to secure a date through a mutual friend, only to be told: “She’s not interested in an 18-year-old Harry Styles lookin’ kid.”
Six years passed before they reconnected, becoming engaged in 2017 and marrying the following year.
When Neale transferred from Fremantle to the Lions in 2019, Jules sold her successful Perth salon to accompany him across the country.
After claiming the AFL’s player of the year award in 2020, he paid tribute to her sacrifice, describing her as “the most selfless person I know.”
By 2023, he was calling her “his rock”.
