Brisbane Lions dual-premiership-winning co-captain Lachie Neale has stepped down from his leadership position, following a "challenging personal period", the club has revealed.

His teammates were informed on Friday morning of the decision, as the club prepares for a tilt at a third straight AFL title in 2026. 

The 32-year-old's decision to step down follows weeks spent in the headlines over a rumoured marriage split with his wife, Julie.

The two-time Brownlow Medal winner addressed the media on Friday.

Lachie Neale celebrates with wife Jules after the 2025 Grand Final. (AAP: Joel Carrett)

"I understand interest in my personal life, but these are personal matters," he said.

"I can confirm that Jules and I have separated. I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions, which have hurt those closest to me.

"I accept that this is a consequence of my actions, and I need to rebuild the trust with Jules."

In an earlier statement, the Brisbane Lions said Neale had "determined this was the best move for him and the club following a challenging personal period".

Lachie Neale and wife Julie at the 2023 Brownlow Medal event at The Gabba. (Getty Images: Albert Perez)

The midfielder, who has played 294 games for the Lions and Fremantle Dockers, has been Brisbane's co-captain for the past three seasons, alongside Harris Andrews, after the pair took over from Dayne Zorko.

Neale said it was "time for the club to move forward with a fresh start".

Brisbane Lions football boss Danny Daly acknowledged Neale's decision to step down.

"Being a captain of the Brisbane Lions comes with a high level of expectation and commitment to uphold our club values and lead by example," Daly said in a statement.

"We thank Lachie for his contribution as a leader of our club for the past three seasons during a highly successful period and look forward to Lachie remaining an important part of our club in the future."

Lachie Neale was the sub in the Brisbane Lions' Grand Final win over Geelong. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Robert Cianflone)

Neale produced a miracle comeback from injury to help the Lions win last year's Grand Final against the Geelong Cats.

He was initially ruled out for the rest of the 2025 season after suffering a calf injury in the club's qualifying loss to the Cats, but then proved his fitness in just a few weeks to be named as the sub in the premiership victory.

He starred for Brisbane in the clash, despite playing just half of the match, gathering 17 disposals, seven clearances, and kicking a crucial goal on the stroke of three-quarter time.

Neale joined the club as a prized recruit in 2019, being traded from the Fremantle Dockers after spending seven seasons in Western Australia.

He is off contract at the end of this season and will become a free agent.

Lachie Neale confirmed the breakdown of his marriage as he stepped down from the Brisbane Lions captaincy. Look back at how a brief and somewhat tense press conference unfolded.

1h agoFri 2 Jan 2026 at 1:49am

That's it from our live coverage!

That's where we'll wrap things up for this morning. Very interesting stuff, all obviously quite raw still for Lachie Neale.

It'll be interesting to see what Brisbane does with its captaincy and the broader leadership group.