Lachie Neale: Embattled Brisbane Lions star has speaking event on Sunshine Coast cancelled

A speaking engagement featuring embattled Lions star Lachie Neale and his “personal journey” across the last 12 months on the Sunshine Coast has been axed.

Neale, whose marriage breakup with partner Jules has dominated the headlines for over a month, and Dayne Zorko were scheduled to headline an event billed as Footy Feast presents “Lions 3-peat Quest” live show at Mooloolaba.

However, the show has been canned with the Brisbane Lions saying it was officially ruled out four weeks ago, despite tickets still being on sale as recently as Thursday.

The premise of the show was “a unique and unprecedented insight into the 2026 pre-season, 2025 premiership and personal journeys of Lachie & Dayne”.

However, given the dramatic events that have unfolded for Neale since claiming his second AFL premiership in September, including a public apology press conference for having an affair, the event was unlikely to talk much footy.

The back-to-back reigning premiers are on the Sunshine Coast for a three-day camp, visiting a host of schools and local footy clubs, with Neale having arrived from Perth, where he visited his two young children over the weekend.

And the 32-year-old is looking as strong as ever on the field.

Reports out of the club’s first serious intra-club say Neale starred through the middle, showing off the talent that has won him two Brownlow Medals.

Ahead of the camp, Lions coaching mastermind Chris Fagan backed Neale and the club’s culture to come through the saga.

“We have been massive on the players being good people first and foremost, that is what leads to success,” Fagan told the Herald Sun.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t have an issue every now and then. You never want these things to happen. In Lachie’s case, we want to support him; we want to support Jules and their family.

“Ultimately, that is a private matter for them. We are really lucky in that we have fantastic people here and you can see it in the way they play together and interact and engage in the community together.

“All I know is that from where we were eight or nine years ago to where we are now, it is just a joy to come to work every day.

“You feel like everyone has got a growth mindset and they are all trying to get better. If someone is stumbling for whatever reason, we help pick them up and get them going again.”

Former West Coast skipper Oscar Allen also starred during the 80-minute practise match on Friday, combing with Logan Morris for five goals.