Lions star Lachie Neale’s wife got ‘vile messages from randoms’ when he was linked with Fremantle

Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale revealed his wife was targeted by ‘vile’ abuse and he felt their characters got questioned when he was linked with a move to Fremantle.

The future of the 2020 Brownlow medallist was one of the hot topics of the offseason, amid suggestions he and his wife Julie may swap Queensland for Western Australia to raise their family.

The scenario would have involved the 28-year-old requesting a trade to the Dockers, the club he joined the Lions from in 2018 and where he spent the first seven seasons of his career.

Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale said his wife Julie received ‘vile text messages’ 

Neale ultimately decided to stay put in the Sunshine State but the episode left a sour taste in his mouth.

‘It was disappointing … my character and Jules’ character got questioned,’ he told reporters this week.

‘I think I got called a manipulator and people were saying I was doing it for money, which certainly wasn’t the case. 

‘If I’d left, I’d probably take less money to go back.’

The 2020 Brownlow medallist was linked with a move back to Fremantle in the offseason

As a result, he felt he and his wife had their ‘characters’ questioned by the media

When rumours of a potential trade back to the Dockers first emerged back in September, Neale’s stance was lambasted by sections of the media. 

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson told Channel Nine’s Footy Classified she felt the two-time All-Australian had done the ‘wrong thing’ by the Lions.

Wilson claimed the club had  been ‘blindsided’ by the player’s alleged desire to move back to his home state, adding they had only found out after the news was reported by Channel 7 in Perth.

Meanwhile, AFL and Triple M journalist Damian Barrett told the AFL Daily podcast that Neale had deliberately ‘stage managed’ the situation to get out of Brisbane.

Neale said reports he ‘blindsided’ the Lions were upsetting and that he’s always been honest

The 28-year-old has two years left on the five-year deal he signed with the Lions back in 2018

Barrett described the Lions star as ‘a negotiator and a manipulator’ and echoed Wilson’s stance that Brisbane was completely shocked by Neale’s desire to leave.

Criticism in the media was far from the only unpleasant aspect the Lions gun had to contend with during the offseason.

‘We had camera people outside our house for three or four days, which was pretty off,’ he continued.

‘Jules was getting messages from randoms, which was pretty vile.

Neale said he has no regrets over deciding to keep his family in Brisbane for the time being

‘The fact nothing even came of it was the most disappointing thing, that people were trying to attack my character and hers. That was the disappointing part, but I can’t control that.

‘I feel like I’m a pretty loyal person, an honest person.’ 

Neale has another two seasons left on his five-year deal with Brisbane and suggested he wasn’t contemplating a return to Western Australia just yet.

‘I’m contracted for two years, and I think at the end of that contract I turn 30, so hopefully the Lions still want me then,’ he continued. 

The Lions begin their 2022 AFL season at home against Port Adelaide on March 19.