The three football options hovering over Lachie Neale as he deals with marriage breakdown |
After Lachie Neale stepped down as Lions’ captain last Friday the immediate thought from a football perspective was what his marriage breakdown might mean for his playing future.
Neale is committed to continuing his career with the Lions in 2026. That much is certain.
But what happens beyond that, when his contract expires at season’s end, and he is a free agent, is very much in doubt.
Lachie Neale confirming to the media he had separated from his wife Jules and he was stepping down as co-captain to prioritise personal matters. Credit: Getty Images
How can that not be the case when so much about Neale’s future is up in the air after wife Jules moved back to Perth with their two children following their separation, which followed relentless tabloid coverage of what Jules described on social media as “an unimaginable betrayal”.
Neale’s remarkably frank public statement, in which he apologised for letting his family down and confronted the consequences of his behaviour, won’t stop the speculation throughout the season about whether he plays for the Lions in 2027, continues his career with the Dockers or the Eagles, or decides he’s done enough and retires.
They are, at this stage, the three footballing options that will be open to Neale as he sorts through his family and personal........