Brisbane Lions dual-premiership-winning co-captain Lachie Neale has stepped down from his leadership position, following a “challenging personal period”, the club has revealed.
His teammates were informed on Friday morning of the decision, as the club prepares for a tilt at a third straight AFL title in 2026.
Lachie Neale confirmed the breakdown of his marriage while fronting the media after stepping down as co-captain of the Brisbane Lions. Follow live.
Just nowFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:47am
Brisbane’s official statement on Neale drama
Here’s the statement released from Brisbane this morning from the club’s football boss Danny Daly:
“We acknowledge Lachie’s decision to step down as co-captain and from the leadership group. Being a captain of the Brisbane Lions comes with a high level of expectation and commitment to uphold our club values and lead by example.” Daly said.
“We thank Lachie for his contribution as a leader of our club for the past three seasons during a highly successful period and look forward to Lachie remaining an important part of our club in the future.
“Our priority as a football club is to always support our people and their families. We’ve been doing this privately with both Lachie and Jules during this difficult time.
“We do ask that their privacy and that of their children and families is respected at this time.”
Daly said the club will commence it’s process of selecting the 2026 leadership group next month.
3m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:44am
Here’s Neale’s full statement surrounding marriage breakdown
This is what Lachie Neale said about his personal life:
“I understand the interest in my personal life, but these are personal matters and I won’t be answering any questions on that topic today. I can confirm though, with regret, Jules and I have now separated.
While I will not go into specifics I can say that 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. I accept this as a consequence of my actions and I need to focus on rebuilding the trust with Jules as the future wellbeing of our children remain our number one priority.
I understand as a public figure that there is interest in my personal life, however, I do ask the privacy of Jules and my children be respected as we work through our new situation and the next chapter of our lives. I’m extremely disappointed in myself and I’ve put plans in place and measures in place to do the work on myself so that I can be the best version of myself moving forward.
Given the personal matters that I am currently working through, I’ve made the decision to stand down as co-captain and from the leadership group effective immediately. Having been a captain and leader of the Lions has been a huge honour but it’s time for the club to move forward with a fresh start and I’ve spoken through this with the club over the last week or two, with Danny [Daly, GM of football] and with Fages [coach Chris Fagan] and it was a pretty easy decision for me and time to move on and let someone else or Harris [Andrews] do the job by himself.”
5m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:43am
Neale walks out after another marriage question
Neale gets asked to clarify whether he is working through anything with his wife, and refuses to answer and just like that the presser is all done.
5m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:42am
Neale admits he has ‘regrets’
“Of course I have regrets about my personal life,” he says.
“I think I’ve addressed what I need to, so I won’t talk about it much more.”
6m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:41am
Neale feels the support of his teammates
“Spoken to my teammates, I feel like they’ll have my back,” he says.
7m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:40am
‘I can’t address those rumours’
Neale is asked about rumours going around with regards to the breakdown of his marriage, but straight bats it.
“I understand that I’m a role model and I’ve let the fans of not only Brisbane but the AFL down,” he says afterwards.
8m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:39am
Neale reveals who could step up as co-captain
Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage are being spoken as potential players who could step up to be co-captains with Harris Andrews.
9m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:39am
Neale not sure how teammates have reacted
“They only found out an hour ago, so not sure yet,” he says.
9m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:38am
Neale visibly emotional as he speaks
“I won’t change my personality in terms of my football stuff,” he says.
Neale’s eyes are red and you can tell he’s had a few tears.
10m agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:37am
‘100% my decision’
Neale says he wasn’t pressured into stepping down.
“I actually brought it up with Fages 12 months ago,” he says.
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The 32-year-old’s decision to step down follows weeks spent in the headlines over a rumoured marriage split with his wife, Julie.
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner addressed the media on Friday.
“I understand interest in my personal life, but these are personal matters,” he said.
“I can confirm that Jules and I have separated. I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions, which have hurt those closest to me.
“I accept that this is a consequence of my actions, and I need to rebuild the trust with Jules.”
Lachie Neale and wife Julie at the 2023 Brownlow Medal event at The Gabba. (Getty Images: Albert Perez)
In an earlier statement, the Brisbane Lions said Neale had “determined this was the best move for him and the club following a challenging personal period”.
The midfielder, who has played 294 games for the Lions and Fremantle Dockers, has been Brisbane’s co-captain for the past three seasons, alongside Harris Andrews, after the pair took over from Dayne Zorko.
Neale said it was “time for the club to move forward with a fresh start”.
Neale produced a miracle comeback from injury to help the Lions win last year’s Grand Final against the Geelong Cats.
He was initially ruled out for the rest of the 2025 season after suffering a calf injury in the club’s qualifying loss to the Cats, but then proved his fitness in just a few weeks to be named as the sub in the premiership victory.
Lachie Neale was the sub in the Brisbane Lions’ Grand Final win over Geelong. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Robert Cianflone)
He starred for Brisbane in the clash, despite playing just half of the match, gathering 17 disposals, seven clearances, and kicking a crucial goal on the stroke of three-quarter time.
Neale joined the club as a prized recruit in 2019, being traded from the Fremantle Dockers after spending seven seasons in Western Australia.
He is off contract at the end of this season and will become a free agent.