'Lose respect': AFL great's warning for Brisbane after off-field Lachie Neale 'storm'

Brisbane will need to get off to a strong start to the 2026 season to put the Lachie Neale summer storm behind them, according to Matthew Lloyd.

Lachie and his partner Jules Neale have endured a very public break up in the wake of allegations he cheated on her with her best friend.

The two-time Brownlow winner has since resigned as captain of the club and dealt with Jules and his two kids moving back to Perth.

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The reigning premiers enter 2026 as flag favourites once again, but this situation has rocked one of their most important players and the club itself.

And it's just another mental hurdle for the team to clear as they attempt to find the motivation to attack a third straight premiership.

"It sounds like he's going to be the last year he plays for the Brisbane Lions, to get back to be closer to his family in WA," Lloyd told 3AW.

"He's a professional. Players are very good at moving on. There's been a massive storm around him, but players are very good at being able to (focus on the team).

"The bigger problem for me is the hangover period for some (after a premiership) that some can get comfortable and teams pick you apart and look at what you do.

"To me, that's a bigger problem for Brisbane than Lachie Neale. Neale is going to do his thing. He's going to get 25 to 30 touches a week. They don't rely on him like they used to. To me, I don't think it's going to be a huge distraction.

"Taking the captaincy off him was the right move because you lose respect."

While he doesn't think it will ultimately prove to be a distraction, Lloyd's caveat on that is if things go south early in the year.

"It's more what happens early in the season. Lachie Neale would want them to be winning games early," Lloyd said.

"Otherwise, we are going to be talking a lot about the distraction."

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson feels the Lions have handled the distraction well to this point of the off-season, from what she's heard.

"You talk to leaders at the club and they swear they haven't seen (disfunction around the club) and the pre-season has gone smoothly and there's been no sign of any descension," Wilson said.

"They even say that they haven't seen any sign of issues between the families and the partners involved. I find that really hard to believe.

"I think when something like this happens, it does put your culture under scrutiny. I'm not saying it's justified writing stories about young players and their relationships ending, which has been done this off-season.

"It can't be easy when your two children are living on the other side of the country. That will be a problem as well."

Brisbane will open their 2026 season at the Gabba, hosting the Western Bulldogs in Opening Round.

Neale, 32, is out of contract at the end of the year.