A telling development on social media has sparked concern for the state of AFL star Lachie Neale's marriage to his wife, Jules. The freelance hair stylist has reportedly stopped following her husband's Instagram account, a move often interpreted as a sign of relationship discord.
The Social Media Silence
While the Brisbane Lions midfielder, 32, continues to follow his wife's profile, the one-sided digital disconnect is seen as significant. Even more notably, earlier this week Jules shared a gallery of photos celebrating their son Freddie's first birthday without tagging or mentioning Lachie at all. Her heartfelt caption praised their two children but made no reference to her husband.
The last joint appearance on their social media pages dates back to a shared post from November 10, showcasing a holiday at a Perth resort. Since then, Neale has featured only sporadically on his wife's Instagram feed.
A Private Matter Under Scrutiny
The couple, who married in November 2018 and have two children together, relocated to Brisbane when Neale was traded from Fremantle to the Lions. According to a source speaking to The Herald Sun, the pair are 'working through' a bump in their relationship, which was firmly described as a 'private matter'. The outlet also suggested Jules may have returned to her home city of Perth.
This apparent strain emerges despite Neale's public praise for his wife earlier this year. Following his second Brownlow Medal win in 2023, he described Jules as 'his rock'. In a 2024 interview, he credited her for enabling his football success, stating she 'holds down the fort at home' and allows him to fulfil his leadership role on and off the field.
Focus Remains on Family
In her recent birthday post for their son, Jules wrote: 'Turning one today. This little man, and his beautiful big sister have taught me what real love, courage, and joy look like.' She concluded with, 'I'm so lucky to be your mumma and I love you beyond words.'
The situation unfolds as Neale enjoys the peak of his professional career, having guided Brisbane to back-to-back premiership titles in September. How the couple navigates this reported 'bump' remains, as stated, a private affair, though the public nature of their social media activity has inevitably drawn attention and speculation.
