AFL star Lachie Neale could lose a string of lucrative endorsements due to the recent breakdown of his marriage.
Neale, 32, told reporters last week he was ‘deeply sorry’ after wife Jules Waugh relocated back to Western Australia with the couple’s two children following the bombshell split.
It comes just months after the midfielder helped guide the Brisbane Lions to back-to- back AFL premierships as captain.
‘I am extremely disappointed in my actions and the breakdown of my marriage which I take full responsibility for. It hurts,’ Neale said.
‘I understand that I am a role model and I’ve probably let fans – not just of the Brisbane Lions but of the AFL – down. I accept that responsibility.’
The veteran has since stood down as Brisbane’s skipper – and whether the likes of Cash Converters, Puma and Telstra continue to endorse Neale in 2026 and beyond remains to be seen.
AFLstar Lachie Neale could lose a string of lucrative endorsements due to the recent breakdown of his marriage (pictured, with ex-wife Jules Neale)
Neale, 32, recently told reporters he was ‘deeply sorry’ after wife Jules Waugh relocated back to Western Australia with the couple’s two children following the bombshell split
Philippa Crosthwaite, creative director and co-founder of The Brand Bar, said Neale first needs to earn back the public’s trust.
‘Reputational damage isn’t always permanent, it’s highly dependent on his response to the incident and rebuilding trust over time,’ she told Perth Now.
‘Some athletes survive scandals because they have massive public goodwill, others don’t. It usually comes down to likeability (with fans).’
Meanwhile, the couple’s $2.43 million ‘forever home’ in Brisbane may soon be on the market due to the split.
The AFL star previously declared his ‘love’ for the sprawling five-bedroom pad in Seven Hills.
Neale purchased the two-storey property at auction in 2022 after selling a home in nearby Coorparoo for a $1million profit the same year.
Boasting multiple bathrooms, a pool, and an entertainment deck, the newly built home features a spacious open layout, soaring ceilings and louvred windows.
There’s also an alfresco dining space and BBQ patio, while the main bedroom features a walk-in wardrobe, en-suite and private balcony.
The AFL star may soon be parting ways with the former couple’s $2.43million property in Brisbane’s Seven Hills (pictured) which he was once declared ‘a forever home’.Â
It came after Ben Crosley’s partner Tess (pictured left) found herself at the centre of Lachie Neale’s marriage breakdown with his partner Jules
Footy fans were stunned after WAG Jules Neale publicly announced she had experienced the ‘ultimate’ betrayal and launched a stunning social media attack on the couple’s friend, former Mormon missionary Tess Crosley, a few days before Christmas.
Neale demanded Crosley remove photos of the Brisbane Lions’ grand final celebrations.
The now-deleted comment, which was captured in screenshots, shows Jules writing: ‘Take these down, you idiot, you’re embarrassing yourself.’
Neale then denied news reports she was ‘working through’ issues with her now ex-husband and instead alleged she had been ‘betrayed in the most unimaginable way’.
‘I want to make it very clear that I am not ‘working through’ anything,’ she wrote.Â
‘I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way.’
There is no suggestion from the Daily Mail that Crosley has done anything improper.
Crosley’s husband, Ben has travelled to Bali with several of his friends after he became entangled in the marriage saga.
He was photographed at the luxurious Bambu Fitness centre in Uluwatu, having completed a fitness session with his friends Tom Bennallack and Seth Mutton.
The finance director, who works for the Hong Kong-based New Heritage Investment company, was seen smiling for a shirtless photo with his two friends after the workout, with Bennallack sharing the snap on his Instagram story.
 Ben and Tess Crosley are understood to have married back in 2017.