Why we haven't touched the Jules Neale story until now.

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The domestic drama not-so-quietly playing out between AFL golden boy, former Brisbane Lions captain Lachie Neale, and his now-estranged wife Jules, has been gaining momentum for the past month.

What started with 'vague-posting' and some strategic unfollows picked up on by eagle-eyed observers on social media has evolved into a multi-family crisis that has dominated headlines and forced the beloved player to take a step back from his role as captain.

And while the headlines — many of which ventured deep into 'ick' territory — have been mounting, Mamamia made an editorial decision not to cover the story.

Until now.

Because in an authentic and refreshing turn of events, Jules has — in the midst of what must be unimaginable pain — reclaimed the narrative.

That's a story we very much want to tell, but more on that in a moment.

The background.

For those not familiar with the people involved, a brief recap:

Lachie and Jules Neale have been together since they were teenagers, and married since 2018. They met when Lachie was a rookie playing for Fremantle, and after moving to Brisbane when Lachie was traded to the Lions, the pair welcomed a little girl, Piper (born in September 2021), and a son, Freddie (born in late 2024).

Jules and Lachie Neale. Image: Instagram/@lachieneale

Enter: Jules' long-time bestie, Tess Crosley — influencer, entrepreneur and former Mormon missionary.

The pair were the ultimate influencer BFFs — posting together from AFL red carpets, luxe holidays and footy games, as well as, for a time, co-hosting the podcast Backstage, where they discussed their lives, fashion, and the reality of life for Jules being in the AFL spotlight.

Tess, along with her husband Ben and their child, reportedly lived in the same suburb as the Neales, with some reports calling them 'neighbours'. Up until recently, the two families' social media was intertwined, with shared holidays, social outings and dinners populating both women's feeds.

The fallout.

Then, in December 2025, fans noticed a sudden chill. Both women abruptly unfollowed each other on social media, and photos of the pair together began disappearing from their socials.

Then, in a now-deleted comment, Jules commented the following underneath a photo of both couples still up on Tess's Instagram: "Take these down, you idiot, you're embarrassing yourself."

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After moving out of the home she shared with Lachie, Jules relocated to Perth to be with family.

But then, she did something no one expected.

The anti-reconciliation message.

Instead of withdrawing from the public eye in order to lick her wounds in private, Jules reclaimed the narrative for herself.

The first move came in late December, when she posted an Instagram story outlining in no uncertain terms where she stood in the separation.

"I want to make it very clear that I am not 'working through' anything. I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way. All I can do now is try to heal and do what's best for my children," she wrote at the time.

Jules Neale. Image: Instagram/@julesneale

And while Lachie was forced into professional crisis control, calling a press conference in early January to confirm the separation and apologise for "letting his family down," Jules had already established the ground rules.

She may have been caught on the back foot once, but that was the last time.

While Lachie announced he was stepping down from the co-captaincy, and media speculation turned to the state of the Crosleys' marriage, Jules remained in Perth with her family, surrounded by a support network.

The vision board and revenge photo-dump.

Last week, the mother-of-two gifted us with a high-energy Instagram carousel featuring images of a relaxed, carefree-looking Jules in a blue polka-dot bikini, Taylor Swift's 'Father Figure', the oh-so-perfect backing track.

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A post shared by Julie Neale (@jules_neale)

On TikTok, she shared footage of a mood-boarding session with friends in Perth, where one of her boards featured the quote: "I am stepping into the most successful decade of my life."

Then, just a few days ago, as news broke that the Neales' $2.43 million Brisbane home had been put up for sale, Jules announced a major career move. She signed with the talent agency One Daydream, who described her as "strong presence across beauty, fashion, and lifestyle," with a "polished yet effortless" aesthetic.

Get it, diva.

It's reminiscent of the way Ariana Madix turned the personal betrayal she experienced while filming Vanderpump Rules — when Tom Sandoval, her partner of nine years, had a months-long affair with her close friend, Raquel Leviss.

Ariana didn't go to ground. Far from it.

Immediately capitalising on the viral support she received, Ariana secured major brand deals (Uber Eats, Lay's), finished third on Dancing with the Stars, and landed a starring role as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway.

And THIS is the story worth telling.

Because so often, women feel the need to shrink themselves in order to make a situation easier for everyone else bar themselves.

They feel forced to lean into the stigma of a woman scorned — believing they must bear some responsibility for the situation, or worse, internalise the shame of the situation.

To see Jules so decisively backhand that shame away from herself and into the lap of those she feels deserve it is healing for us all.

And while the mess of a couple's intimate dynamics and the breakdown of a friendship will always draw a crowd, the story of a woman triumphing over heartbreak and stepping into the light on her own terms is the one we'll always get behind.

Feature Image: Instagram/@jules_neale.