Few things unravel quite as publicly as a high-profile relationship under the spotlight of social media and AFL gossip. Jules Neale, the influencer with 172,000 Instagram followers, has been at the centre of a very public split from Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale since December 2025.
Instagram followers: 172K ·
Instagram posts: 325 ·
Married since: 2018 ·
Split announced: December 2025 ·
Jules’ public statements after split: 2 (podcast and social media) ·
Tess Crosley’s public statement: 1
Quick snapshot
- Jules and Lachie Neale separated in December 2025 (news.com.au)
- Lachie Neale confirmed the split in January 2026 (PerthNow)
- Jules alleged an affair with Tess Crosley (Mamamia)
- Jules moved back to Perth after the split (PerthNow)
- Whether Lachie has made any public response to the allegations
- The exact timeline of the alleged affair
- Whether the marriage had prior issues before 2025
- Full details of Tess Crosley’s statement
- Jules focusing on healing and raising her children in Perth
- Possible further statements from Tess or Lachie
- Ongoing media coverage of the fallout
Seven key facts about Jules Neale and the timeline of the split:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jules Neale |
| @jules_neale (172K followers) | |
| Relationship with Lachie Neale | Married 2018, separated Dec 2025 |
| Alleged affair partner | Tess Crosley |
| Public debut of story | August 2026 |
| Number of public statements from Jules | 2 (podcast and social media post) |
| Number of public statements from Tess | 1 |
The table shows a story dominated by two speakers, with the central figure remaining silent.
What happened between Jules and Lachie Neale?
- Jules and Lachie began dating as teenagers and married in 2018 (Mamamia).
- In December 2025, Jules posted a message saying she had been “betrayed in the most unimaginable way” (news.com.au).
- Lachie confirmed the separation in January 2026 and stepped down as Brisbane Lions co-captain (Nine).
- Jules later alleged in a podcast that the affair lasted four months and that she was initially told it was “a kiss” (Mamamia).
The split was not a quiet one. Jules’s Instagram post in December 2025 used the word “betrayed” and hinted at infidelity, which set off a chain of media stories. Lachie, in a statement to Nine, said he was “deeply sorry” for letting his family down and announced he would relinquish his co-captaincy at the Brisbane Lions. The decision was seen as an attempt to focus on his personal life away from the public glare.
Why did Jules leave Lachie?
Jules has said the marriage broke down because of infidelity. In her August 2026 podcast interview, she claimed that Lachie had been unfaithful once before, between the birth of their daughter in 2021 and the birth of their son in 2024 (Nine). She also stated that the final straw was the four-month affair with Tess Crosley that she discovered via messages on Lachie’s phone.
Did Lachie Neale break up with Jules?
According to available reports, the separation was mutual in the sense that both parties recognised the marriage was over. Lachie’s public statement in January 2026 said he and Jules had “decided to separate” after seven years of marriage (PerthNow). However, Jules’s later podcast remarks suggest she was the one who discovered the affair and initiated the split.
What happened with Tess Crosley and Lachie Neale?
- Tess Crosley is an AFLW player who was allegedly involved with Lachie (PerthNow).
- In August 2026, Tess broke her silence on the Pretty Sure podcast, describing an “ongoing, four-month affair” and saying she made decisions she deeply regretted (PerthNow).
- Jules responded with a statement thanking supporters and focusing on healing (news.com.au).
Tess Crosley’s account acknowledged the affair but framed it as a situation where she believed she was in a friendship that became “too close”. On the PerthNow report of the podcast, she said she experienced “love bombing” and described the relationship as an ongoing affair. She also hinted at previous problems in her own marriage.
How did Jules find out about Lachie?
Jules has said she discovered the affair by looking at Lachie’s phone. In her podcast interview, she recounted finding messages that confirmed the relationship with Tess (Nine). She was initially told it was “a kiss” but later learned the affair had lasted four months. The discovery led to the immediate end of the marriage.
Both Jules and Tess have now given their versions of events, but Lachie remains silent. The public is left to weigh two differing accounts, with no direct response from the man at the centre.
Are Jules and Lachie Neale still together?
- No, they are not together. They separated in December 2025 and have not reconciled.
- Lachie confirmed the separation in January 2026 (PerthNow).
- Jules has moved back to Perth with their children and is focused on healing (PerthNow).
The couple, who married in 2018 and have two young children, are now living apart. Jules’s social media posts show her establishing a new life in Perth, while Lachie remains in Brisbane playing for the Lions. There is no indication of any reconciliation.
Where is Jules Neale now?
- Jules Neale has relocated to Perth, Western Australia, with her two children.
- She has been active on Instagram, posting about her new home and focusing on her recovery.
- In August 2026, she gave a tell-all podcast interview and later posted a gratitude statement after Tess Crosley spoke (news.com.au).
- She has expressed a desire to move forward and heal privately.
Jules has been open about her emotional journey. In an interview with Mamamia, she described the difficulty of processing the betrayal while maintaining a public presence. She now appears to be building a new life, though the media spotlight remains intense.
How did Jules find out about Lachie?
- Jules discovered the affair through messages on Lachie’s phone, according to her podcast account (Nine).
- She was initially told it was a single kiss, but later found evidence of a four-month affair.
- She claims this was not the first instance of infidelity in their marriage.
The discovery was a watershed moment. Jules said in her podcast that she had suspected something was off for months, but the hard evidence came when she picked up Lachie’s phone. The confrontation led to the immediate separation.
The way Jules discovered the affair has become a central point in the public narrative. It shifts the story from a simple breakup to a question of trust and transparency in a high-profile marriage.
Timeline of the Jules Neale–Lachie Neale split
- Teenage years to 2018: Dating and marriage.
- 2018: Marriage in a private ceremony.
- December 2025: Separation; Jules posts “betrayed” message.
- January 2026: Lachie confirms separation, steps down as co-captain.
- August 26, 2026: Jules releases tell-all podcast; Tess Crosley breaks silence on Pretty Sure podcast.
- Late August 2026: Jules posts gratitude statement after Tess’s interview.
The timeline shows that the public has had to piece together events over eight months, with the most explosive revelations coming only in August 2026.
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Jules and Lachie Neale are separated since December 2025.
- Jules publicly alleged that Lachie had an affair with Tess Crosley.
- Tess Crosley has publicly addressed the allegations on a podcast.
- Jules has given a podcast interview and a social media statement.
What’s unclear
- Whether Lachie Neale has made any public response to the allegations.
- The exact timeline of the alleged affair (when it started, how long it lasted).
- Whether the marriage had prior issues before 2025.
- The full details of Tess Crosley’s statement – she has only given one interview.
- Whether there will be any legal proceedings regarding custody or finances.
Quotes from the key figures
“I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way.”
– Jules Neale, Instagram post, December 2025 (reported by news.com.au)
“I’m deeply sorry for letting my family down. I’ll be stepping down as co-captain to focus on my personal life.”
– Lachie Neale, statement to Nine, January 2026
“I made decisions that I deeply regret. It was an ongoing, four-month affair.”
– Tess Crosley, Pretty Sure podcast, August 2026 (reported by PerthNow)
“I’m so grateful for the support. Healing takes time, but I’m getting there.”
– Jules Neale, social media statement, August 2026 (reported by news.com.au)
The pattern is clear: both Jules and Tess have chosen to speak publicly, while Lachie has remained silent. For Jules, who has over 172,000 followers on Instagram, every post is scrutinised. Her decision to go on a podcast was a deliberate move to control her own narrative. For Tess, the podcast was an opportunity to apologise and explain her side. The trade-off is that the more they talk, the more the story stays in the headlines.
perthnow.com.au, nine.com.au, nine.com.au, news.com.au, thenightly.com.au, news.com.au
Frequently asked questions
How old is Jules Neale?
Jules Neale’s exact age has not been publicly confirmed, but she is believed to be in her late 20s or early 30s, as she and Lachie have been together since their teenage years.
How long were Jules and Lachie Neale together?
They were together for over a decade, including seven years of marriage (2018–2025). They met as teenagers.
What does Jules Neale do for a living?
Jules is an Instagram influencer and content creator with 172,000 followers. She shares lifestyle, fashion, and parenting content.
Has Lachie Neale publicly responded to the allegations?
As of August 2026, Lachie Neale has not issued a public statement directly addressing the infidelity allegations. He confirmed the separation in January 2026 and apologised for letting his family down.
What was the nature of Tess Crosley’s statement?
Tess Crosley gave an interview on the Pretty Sure podcast in August 2026, where she described a four-month affair with Lachie Neale, expressed regret, and said she experienced love bombing.
Are there any legal proceedings between Jules and Lachie?
No legal proceedings have been publicly reported. The couple appears to be handling the separation privately, focusing on co-parenting their two children.
For Jules Neale, the implication is clear: she has told her story, but without a response from Lachie, the full truth remains incomplete. The public will continue to follow the aftermath, but the real consequence is for the two children caught in the middle.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.