Lachie Neale opens up about family, fatherhood and his new role as the Brisbane Racing Club’s summer ambassador

Lions star Lachie Neale has opened up about fatherhood, family and why Brisbane is home as he announces a new gig as the Brisbane Racing Club’s summer ambassador

AFL star Lachie Neale felt a shift since marrying wife, Jules, and becoming a father – home, he discovered, is simply where his family is.

Growing up on a farm property in a small town in South Australia, the Brisbane Lions star, 29, hasn’t lived in his hometown since he was 14, after which chasing his football dreams became his guiding force, including a trade to the Lions in 2019 and a subsequent Brownlow Medal win the following year.

But having now extended his contract with the Lions until the end of 2026 and moved into a new house with Jules and their daughter, Piper, now one, that home is resolutely Brisbane.

And in a bid to be a greater part of the community – while also connecting to his roots on the family farm – Neale has signed on as Brisbane Racing Club ambassador for Road to Magic Millions, attending race days and other events during the summer carnival.

New Brisbane Racing Club summer racing ambassadors Jules and Lachie Neale at Eagle Farm. Picture: Lachie Millard

“I feel like since marrying Jules and having a little one now for a year that’s my home now,” Neale said. “It’s given me a good outlook as well and outlet to footy; before we had (Piper) I was all footy and probably didn’t have anything outside of footy to take my mind off of it, so to have family and things like this that aren’t anything to do with football is perfect.”

“I’ve grown up around horses and always loved going to the races … and it brings back really good memories from when I was growing up.”

The star midfielder previously co-owned a racehorse with a group of friends and the cohort is on the search for a new find, while his mother grew up riding horses in England before moving to Australia.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if next time we go back there is a new horse on the farm,” Neale laughed.

After winning AFL’s top individual honour in 2020, Neale paid tribute to Jules for leaving her work and family in Western Australia so he could follow his career to Brisbane.

Brisbane Lions player Lachie Neale with daughter, Piper ahead of the Lions AFL preliminary final at the MCG in September. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Jules and Lachie Neale at the Brisbane Lions AFL awards nightclub Champion, players and partners socials, Brisbane Convention Centre, on Friday 30th September 2022. Photo: Steve Pohlner

There was a brief media storm around potential trade talks before they welcomed Piper in late 2021, when the pandemic had prevented them from seeing family.

But it was never anything more than a conversation between two soon-to-be parents in a new city concerned by relentless border closures.

And with travel now resumed, they are content with life together in Brisbane, holidaying in Noosa, making daily trips with Piper to their local park and now enjoying summer race days.

“It only ever made it to a conversation between us and that’s all it ever was, which we should be allowed to have,” Jules said.

“I’m so comfortable being here now. We love having P here, it’s kind of changed things for me as well; my outlook on where we are, now that we are our own little family unit and our home is wherever he is and us three are; I’m just so content with our daily life in Queensland.”

“The club is such a great community and there’s so many young mums … we support each other and spend a lot of time together. It’s nice to have each other.”

As BRC ambassadors for Road to Magic Millions, Lachie and Jules Neale will attend race days and other events during the summer carnival. Picture: Lachie Millard

“I think everyone had their challenges through Covid and we were no different,” Neale added. “We love living here so it was never a question of that, so for us we feel like we’re embedded in the community now.”

It was that feeling that contributed to his new BRC role this summer.

“We love Queenslanders in general, I think they’re great people, so to enjoy a drink or two during the off season at the races … and mix with people is great – we don’t get to do that too much during the season,” he said.

“I feel like doing this role certainly helps with that. We’re here for at least another four years, which will take us to eight years in Brissie in total, I’ll be 33 when that contract is up – I’ll keep playing if they want me – but we love the lifestyle, we love living here, Piper will be five years old and starting school so who knows, we might end up here forever.”

And forever would suit Queensland, and the Lions, just fine.

Originally published as Lachie Neale opens up about family, fatherhood and his new role as the Brisbane Racing Club’s summer ambassador