Lachie Neale says he is no closer to deciding where he will play in 2027, revealing family, football success and life after retirement are all weighing heavily on one of the biggest contract calls of his decorated AFL career.
Neale, 33, has up to six clubs chasing him for next season after the off-contract star broke up with his wife Julie in late 2025, later admitting to an affair with her former best friend Tess Crosley, who was married to Lachie’s friend Ben Crosley.
Following their highly publicised separation, Neale stepped down as Brisbane co-captain in January 2026, while Jules relocated to Perth with their children and the pair began co-parenting.
Lachie Neale says family, football success and life after retirement will determine where he plays beyond the 2026 AFL season
Neale says his children remain the biggest factor as he weighs staying in Brisbane or relocating closer to family
Six AFL clubs are reportedly interested as Neale prepares for career-defining meetings about football and opportunities beyond retirement next season
But it is not a fait accompli that Neale will relocate to Western Australia, with a host of Melbourne clubs keen for his services while the Lions want to retain their star midfielder.
The dual Brownlow Medallist admitted after Brisbane’s 19.9 (123) to 14.17 (101) win over Geelong on Thursday night that he ‘honestly doesn’t know’ where he will end up next season as interest intensifies from rival clubs across the country.
Collingwood is considered the frontrunner for his signature, while St Kilda, Essendon, Adelaide and West Coast have also been linked to the veteran midfielder.
Brisbane remains determined to retain the 33-year-old as he continues to help lead the club’s premiership defence.
Neale said every aspect of his future is under consideration before making a final call.
‘I’ve just got to weigh everything … success, finance, everything that goes along with playing footy. I’m 33 – probably don’t have that long left, so yeah, just weighing it all up,’ he told Fox Footy.
‘I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s 100% the truth – I’m not sure what I’ll decide.’
The Brisbane champion said his decision extends well beyond football, with meetings planned to discuss both playing opportunities and life after his career finishes.
Neale laughed off St Kilda rumours, joking he did not care where dinner happened if Ross Lyon paid the bill
The Lions veteran insists he will not rush his decision during the upcoming break despite growing interest from rival clubs
‘If I’m honest, I have to go to a couple of meetings [with other clubs] and delve into it a little bit, but it’s more talking about the future and more so post-footy as well.
‘I have those chats with Brisbane too and have caught up with Dom [Ambrogio] and Danny [Daly] a couple of times as well – it’s not just other clubs,’ he said.
‘It’s a bit of a difficult situation that I’m working through … Yeah, work out what the best result is in due time.
‘But I love playing for this club – I’m all in at the moment to try and win a third premiership, and who knows? I might be back next year as well.’
Neale’s personal circumstances have become central to his decision after his separation from wife Jules late last year.
Their children, Piper and Freddie, now live in Perth, while Neale has spoken openly about the challenge of balancing his football career with spending as much time as possible with them.
He said the decision is also influenced by where the rest of his family now lives.
‘Obviously my kids, it’s well-documented are in Perth. I’ve got my family – Dad’s living in Hamilton at the moment. Gets back to Robe on the weekends.
Neale says the uncertainty is genuine as he continues weighing every option before deciding where he will play next season
‘If you’ve been there it’s a beautiful place in South Australia. Then Mum and my stepdad are on a farm right on the border of South Australia and Victoria.
‘It’s sort of weighing up whether to be closer to them, closer to the kids. Whether I stay in Brisbane and make that work as well – that’s definitely a chance. Like I said love playing here.’
Neale also laughed off speculation linking him to St Kilda after exchanging banter with Geelong supporters while leaving the field for a head injury assessment.
‘I think he was asking me what bottle of red Ross [Lyon] was getting me for dinner,’ he said.
‘That’s all part of the theatre, it’s good fun, it wasn’t too bad. I don’t think I said anything inappropriate.
‘It was always coming when you run along the boundary here at Geelong.’
Asked if he had any restaurant advice for Saints coach Ross Lyon, Neale joked: ‘As long as he’s paying, I don’t care.’
Despite the ongoing speculation, Neale said he has no plans to rush a decision during Brisbane’s upcoming 10-day break.
‘Probably not, to be honest,’ he said.
‘I think I will park that, let [manager] Tommy Petroro handle that.
‘I love this footy club, I love playing for the Lions. Obviously there is a bit of chatter about where I might end up and there’s a couple of options there and things I have to work through.
‘At the moment I just love playing with this group and who knows, could still be here next year.
‘Just got to weigh everything up and I’ll do that in a month or so, towards the back end of the year.’
