2026 Pre-Season Thread

[Flossie32]

The club are not in disrepute. The club didn't have an affair, Lachie did. It's no reflection on anyone else there.

I get being disappointed over this, and I too feel for Jules, but at the end of the day, I'm following the club (and by extension Lachie) because they play football, not because I look up to them as moral pillars (and if religious institutions are anything to go by, there's no point looking up to anyone as a moral pillar, because humans are flawed). Sadly for them, divorce is likely inevitable now, but I still support Lachie as a player.

While we're here, I had a gander at the other woman's Instagram page and she's been in Lions circles for a while now, seemed to be good mates with Jarryd Lyons' partner too before they went to Adelaide. I wonder how all that started.

And i saw Hayley Opel who is jed adcocks ex wife in some of the photos as well.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Hopefully we get a good year from Neal in 2026.

It appears that Jules and the children will be living in WA with family support.
Things may get patched up but unlikely at this stage.

If Lachie wants to be near his children, it looks like he will have to make a move to WA, being the easiest access solution.

OOC in 2026 and the Club will have to accept what's offered. So will Neale salary wise.

Even if he didn't do what he did I always expected Neale to go back to WA before his career is over and after this, I am more than confident to say he will be playing for one of the WA clubs in 2027.

 

[martinson]

Even if he didn't do what he did I always expected Neale to go back to WA before his career is over and after this, I am more than confident to say he will be playing for one of the WA clubs in 2027.

If we win another one or are still well in contention I wouldn't be surprised if his inclination was to stay on if he's still a gun player.

But who knows ,a lot to play out and obviously his footy future after 2026 is very much up in the air. I don't think he's ever wanted to go back there.

 

[SpecialBruce]

If we win another one or are still well in contention I wouldn't be surprised if his inclination was to stay on if he's still a gun player.

But who knows ,a lot to play out and obviously his footy future after 2026 is very much up in the air. I don't think he's ever wanted to go back there.

I don't think he will have a choice. With the family values this club has drilled into since 2016, keeping him around goes against that. So I can't see the club giving him another contract.

 

[Gadzorks]

If true, what a dog act.


You can say it shouldn’t diminish him as a footballer, shouldn’t affect his role, it happens at all professional sporting clubs, blah blah… Whatever, it’s a real low act. Lost a lot of respect personally.

I’d imagine it’ll be his last year here one way or the other - especially if the kids stay in WA. You can think otherwise, but it will be a distraction to him personally, and to the group.

With this, and a couple of others, and Vegas, there are some real disappointing cultural issues with this group.

Acts of stupidity around sex and relationships are not limited to footy players, and they probably occur about the same frequency across every social group.

Cheating is a dog act, but we can't hold footy players to a higher standard than others.

 

[martinson]

Acts of stupidity around sex and relationships are not limited to footy players, and they probably occur about the same frequency across every social group.

Cheating is a dog act, but we can't hold footy players to a higher standard than others.

The big factor is opportunity . And notoriety.

 

[010203]

I suspect Lachie will step down as co-captain with Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

29

Ht

200cm

Wt

98kg

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Def

Career

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Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

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5.4

4star

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5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

being sole captain and Hugh McCluggage

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Hugh Mccluggage

Age

27

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187cm

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84kg

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Mid

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19.3

5star

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11.4

4star

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7.9

5star

M

4.0

4star

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3.0

5star

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2.2

4star

D

19.0

4star

K

12.0

5star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

2.0

4star

D

13.2

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.8

4star

CL

0.6

3star

becoming vice-captain.

 

[Happy_Neale]

I don't think he will have a choice. With the family values this club has drilled into since 2016, keeping him around goes against that. So I can't see the club giving him another contract.

Zorko?

 

[BangyBangy]

I don't think he will have a choice. With the family values this club has drilled into since 2016, keeping him around goes against that. So I can't see the club giving him another contract.

Such as?

 

[Nathan Barley]

Such as?

I think hes worried Lachie will cheat on us with West Coast

 

[BangyBangy]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The club can't avoid this and they will have to take action in some form. Also, a storm like this doesn't cease overnight. This will only get messier - especially if Jules moves back to perth and files for divorce. Not only are the club in disrepute right now, but Lachie's season is as well. There is simply no way he would be able to perform at the highest level with everything that is about to come from this. The negative media attention, his wife leaving him, the likely divorce, his kids probably not being at home with him anymore. I have to also preface this by saying Jules is the real victim in all of this; and i can't imagine how she's feeling right now.

Lol. The late great Shane Keith Warne would disagree with this.

Don't underestimate the ability of a narcissistic insular sportsperson to compartmentalize.

 

[martinson]

Lol. The late great Shane Keith Warne would disagree with this.

Don't underestimate the ability of a narcissistic insular sportsperson to compartmentalize.

Tiger Woods had 3 or 4 hours sleep around the world for years.

And was able to totally focus on golf once he got out there and decimate his opposition.

When he got sprung in Melbourne partying and canoodling every night he absolutely blitzed that tournament.

It was only once his missus belted him over the head with a driver that the madness of it all seemed to get to him.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Acts of stupidity around sex and relationships are not limited to footy players, and they probably occur about the same frequency across every social group.

Cheating is a dog act, but we can't hold footy players to a higher standard than others.

Can anyone be held to any standard?

 

[Nuggo]

Well run AFL footy clubs know how to deal with off field stuff. It will be business as usual on the field for 2026. May be some leadership restructuring. Will be interesting to see if he stays at the Lions or not. Leaving won't be the end of the world.

 

[morsie]

Can anyone be held to any standard?

On behavioural issues not by me.As Jesus said let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

 

[Saucery]

The club's duties are every players duty, but every player's conscience is their own.

If someone asked you if you would trade in a player, a future captain who was to be an integral part in your club winning B2B flags but would then be outed for alleged infidelity would it be no deal for you?

That's the only football question here.

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

Can ppl get off neale's dick? What he does in his private life is no one's business.

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

If someone asked you if you would trade in a bloke, a future captain who was to be an integral part in your club winning B2B flags but would then be outed for alleged infidelity would it be no deal for you? That's the only question here. The club's needs are every players duty, but every player's conscience is their own.

I don't give a **** who he ****s.

 

[rye]

Can ppl get off neale's dick? What he does in his private life is no one's business.

 

[MacMum]

I suspect that if things aren't sorted out between Lachie and Jules and she stays in Perth with their kids, it will be goodbye Lachie for us..

He won't want to be so far away from his kids.

..and tbh, Good riddence if he does. I've lost all respect for him now, don't care. He deserves all the heat he gets on this... ..and Jules gets as much coin out of him as possible.

We're still a mighty team without him.

 

[BangyBangy]

So much for those impressive juggling skills....

 

[p4p1]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The club can't avoid this and they will have to take action in some form. Also, a storm like this doesn't cease overnight. This will only get messier - especially if Jules moves back to perth and files for divorce. Not only are the club in disrepute right now, but Lachie's season is as well. There is simply no way he would be able to perform at the highest level with everything that is about to come from this. The negative media attention, his wife leaving him, the likely divorce, his kids probably not being at home with him anymore. I have to also preface this by saying Jules is the real victim in all of this; and i can't imagine how she's feeling right now.

This is so insane.
This has nothing to do with the club. Lachie’s season is not in disrepute.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

On behavioural issues not by me.As Jesus said let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Within the law, sure. If he'd done a Bruce Lehrmann then it'd be different.

 

[Fagenslions36]

People on here thinking this has no impact on our season is laughable although maybe it all ends up like the lions Vegas trip. We aren’t talking about an average player here we are talking about a 2 time Brownlow medalist and captain of our club who has shagged his wife’s best mate . This goes against everything Chris Fagan would stand for as a bloke . It further emphasises to me that Lachie shouldn’t be the leader of our club and as known to us all Harris is the spiritual leader anyway . People are kidding themselves if they think the chief wag of the club isn’t going to have other players partners asking them some pretty direct questions , and yes while Shane Warne could still perform on the pitch with dramas as another poster alluded to the majority of players it will not be the same . Zorko also didn’t cheat on froggy Lester’s sister as alluded to by one poster his sister is married to Ryan Lester

35

Ryan Lester

Age

33

Ht

190cm

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84kg

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Def

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14.9

4star

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7.9

3star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

170.4

3star

D

10.3

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

4.5

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

140.7

3star

D

12.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

0.6

3star

seen a few incorrect mentions of this . Lachie is a dog whether Jules was a ball breaker or not you don’t go poop in your own backyard with your wife’s friend . It’s poor form and says his quality as a person .

 

[Fagenslions36]

Also nobody knows when this has occurred although I’m lead to believe to happened recently. But perhaps things not all roses in Neale household . She obviously has wanted to he home in Perth for a long time and this has probably contributed to the issues .