Jules Neale has publicly criticised the Brisbane Lions for sharing a video on Instagram that showed her estranged husband, Lachie Neale, carrying their four-year-old daughter Piper as she cried during his 300th AFL match at the MCG on April 19.
The clip, posted by the club, captured Piper in tears as Lachie held her while the team prepared to run through their banner just before kickoff. The Lions captioned the post 'Our shy queen', prompting Jules to respond with a sharp comment on Saturday night: 'She's not shy. She's scared and it's not funny.'
The video also showed Piper holding a microphone during an interview with her father the day before the game, where he asked if she was excited to run onto the ground. Piper shook her head, and the Lions added the caption 'She wasn't lying' with crying emojis.
While many comments on the post were supportive, some agreed with Jules's perspective. One user wrote, 'Aww poor darling has gone through so much,' while another added, 'Absolutely terrified, the poor little darlin. When ego takes over, the child suffers.'
Bringing young children onto the field for milestone matches is a common tradition in the AFL, but the intense atmosphere can often overwhelm them. Jules and Lachie separated in November last year after she accused him of betrayal on Instagram. Lachie later admitted his actions led to the split, following rumours of an affair with Jules's former friend Tess Crosley.
Jules, who now lives in Perth with their two children, recently revealed she underwent hypnotherapy to cope with the emotional fallout, saying it helped more than traditional talk therapy. Lachie, a Brownlow Medal winner, has hinted at a possible move to a Perth-based AFL team to be closer to his children when his contract with the Lions ends this season.
