AFL star Lachie Neale has been pictured with a new girlfriend, Emma Field, 29, after touching down at Brisbane Airport following a trip to Melbourne together.
The sighting comes just seven months after Neale's wife Jules walked out on him following the alleged discovery of his affair with her best friend, Tess Crosley. The 33-year-old former Brisbane Lions captain and Field had just flown back from Melbourne, where she had been spotted cheering him on from the stands at several games. Neale was also reportedly given a tour of Collingwood's state-of-the-art training facility while in the city.
It is understood that Jules is aware of Lachie's new relationship and is entirely unfazed by it, instead focusing on the next chapter of her life in Perth with her children. When a friend raised the topic with her, Jules reportedly responded along the lines of "good luck to her," before declining to elaborate further.
Who is Emma Field?
Field is believed to work in advertising on the Gold Coast after previously living in Melbourne. She is not quite a fully fledged influencer, but has built a sizeable Instagram following through a steady stream of bikini photos, gym selfies and lifestyle content. Neale has liked a string of her posts, and the pair follow each other on social media.
Before her current career, Field ran a mobile beauty business with her sister Jamie in their hometown of Wangaratta in regional Victoria, where her relationship with Neale is reportedly the talk of the town.
MAFS producers' interest
Field has also attracted attention from reality television casting staff, with multiple sources saying she has long been of interest to Married At First Sight producers. One insider said every casting producer follows her on Instagram and that they were keen to get her on a show like MAFS, though it is unclear whether that interest went beyond direct messages.
Field also has tattoos across her arms and thigh, including an elaborate dragon design stretching the length of her spine.
Neale's future at Brisbane
A question mark hangs over where Neale will play next after leaving Brisbane at the end of the AFL season. Lions coach Chris Fagan revealed in January that the club would not stand in Neale's way if he wanted a fresh start elsewhere, potentially paving the way for a return to Melbourne.
Jules Neale's new chapter
Meanwhile, Neale's estranged wife Jules has been rebuilding her life. After relocating to her hometown of Perth following the split, the hairdresser and content creator recently announced she had bought a new home after months of searching, describing it as the beginning of an exciting new chapter for herself and the couple's children, Piper, five, and Freddie, one. The purchase comes after the family's Brisbane home was auctioned off in February.
Neale, who has remained in Brisbane, recently admitted that long-distance co-parenting has been difficult. He told The Age it was tough not having the kids there, but that he was lucky Jules allowed him to come and go from Perth. He said he gets to see his daughter Piper a fair bit and described Jules as very flexible, adding that he is able to travel back to Perth with the club's blessing whenever he wants. He said that if he has to miss a day of training, the club is happy for that to happen, and that he is managing the situation well so far.
