Husband's Tropical Escape Amid Marriage Drama Fallout
Ben Crosley, the husband of Tess Crosley, has been pictured enjoying a holiday in Bali with friends, following the intense public scrutiny surrounding his wife's connection to the marriage breakdown of AFL star Lachie Neale and his wife, Julie. The finance director was photographed at the upscale Bambu Fitness centre in Uluwatu, appearing fresh from a workout with companions Tom Bennallack and Seth Mutton.
Bennallack shared a shirtless post-workout snapshot of the trio on his Instagram story, tagging both Crosley and Mutton. Further posts depicted the group engaged in high-intensity training, including burpees and sessions on cycling and rowing machines. A subsequent video suggested the friends were relaxing by the pool at the luxurious fitness retreat.
The Social Media Unraveling and Police Visit
The getaway comes after Ben's wife, Tess, found herself at the centre of a very public dispute. The couples, who had been friends for years and shared social occasions, saw their relationship fracture publicly in December. On December 22, Julie Neale demanded in a now-deleted Instagram comment that Tess remove a photo of herself from the Brisbane Lions' premiership celebrations, telling her she was "embarrassing yourself."
Julie later posted about being "betrayed in the most unimaginable way." There is no suggestion that Tess Crosley acted improperly. The situation escalated on New Year's Eve, when Queensland Police conducted a welfare check at the Crosleys' Brisbane home. Officers were seen at the property, with Ben answering the door as they collected several pieces of luggage.
A police spokesperson confirmed the visit was a welfare check and stated no criminal matter was being investigated. Last week, Tess was seen leaving her home looking downcast and was not wearing her wedding ring.
Neale's Captaincy Resignation and Family Fallout
The backdrop to this personal drama is the formal separation of Lachie and Julie Neale. The two-time Brownlow medallist and Brisbane Lions captain announced their split on Friday, simultaneously stepping down from his club captaincy. In an emotional statement, Neale said he had "let my family down" and expressed deep regret for his actions, though he declined to address rumours of infidelity directly.
Neale, 32, has since moved out of the couple's $2.43 million marital home in Brisbane and into a new property. His future with the Lions is now uncertain, with his contract set to expire at the end of the year. When asked about a potential return to Western Australia, where he previously played for Fremantle, Neale said he hadn't yet made a decision.
Julie Neale is understood to have returned to her home state of Western Australia with their children. The saga continues to unfold, with Ben Crosley's Balinese retreat offering a stark contrast to the turmoil playing out back in Australia.
