As the scandal surrounding Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and Tess Crosley continues to unfold in mid-January 2026, fresh attention has turned to Tess’s own marriage. Her husband, Ben Crosley, was photographed without his wedding ring during a New Year’s “boys trip” to Bali, while Tess has been seen managing daily responsibilities—including solo school drop-offs for their young child—without his apparent support.
The images and reports, circulating widely in Australian media like news.com.au, Daily Mail Australia, and the Herald Sun, show Ben enjoying a fitness-focused getaway at the luxurious Bambu Fitness retreat in Uluwatu. Shirtless and smiling alongside friends Tom Bennallack and Seth Mutton after high-intensity workouts, Ben appeared relaxed in social media stories and photos shared by the group. Notably absent from his hand was his wedding band, a detail that has sparked intense speculation about the state of his relationship with Tess amid the explosive allegations linking her to Neale.
Ben, a finance director for the Hong Kong-based New Heritage Investment company (with reported property interests in Indonesia), reportedly used the trip to inspect investments while escaping the media storm back home in Brisbane. Sources close to the situation described it as a deliberate break from the relentless scrutiny following the Neale marriage breakdown announcement over the Christmas period. While the Crosleys have not publicly confirmed any separation or marital issues, the lack of rings—Ben’s during Bali photos and Tess’s in recent outings—has led many to conclude their union is under severe strain or possibly over.
Tess, 30, a former Mormon missionary turned influencer and mother to a toddler, has been spotted handling everyday family duties alone. Reports indicate she has been dropping off and picking up their child from school single-handedly, in addition to maintaining a low-profile routine that includes visits to cosmetic clinics in Brisbane and family time on the Gold Coast over Christmas. These solo appearances contrast sharply with the couple’s previously shared family-oriented public image, where they often attended Brisbane Lions events together, wearing team scarves and celebrating alongside the Neales.
The Crosley marriage has become collateral damage in the larger scandal that rocked the AFL world. Lachie Neale, 32—a dual Brownlow Medal winner and former Lions co-captain—stepped down from leadership and confirmed his separation from wife Jules Neale, 35, in a January 2, 2026, press conference. He took “full responsibility” for letting his family down, apologizing without detailing specifics. Jules described the situation as an “unimaginable betrayal,” relocating to Perth, Western Australia, with their two children, Piper and Freddie, for family support.
Multiple outlets allege Neale’s affair with Tess Crosley—a close friend and neighbor of Jules—lasted three to six months, potentially overlapping with the Lions’ 2025 premiership success. Gym members at Total Fusion Newstead reported the pair being “very affectionate and without much shame” for months, with one anonymous source assuming Neale was already separated due to their overt behavior. A Lions WAG reportedly caught them in a compromising position in a car and informed Jules, accelerating the collapse.
Tess has remained mostly silent, dodging direct questions from reporters in brief encounters and removing or archiving related social media content. She celebrated a subdued 30th birthday at Penfolds Magill Estate Winery in Adelaide, also ringless in photos. No direct statements have come from either Tess or Ben regarding their relationship status, though Ben’s Bali posts and Tess’s solo parenting duties have become focal points in coverage.
The scandal has dominated Australian sports and celebrity news, with discussions on Reddit (r/AFL), Instagram, and tabloids exploring themes of betrayal, friendship fallout, and the pressures of high-profile relationships. Neale’s “good bloke” reputation has taken a hit, while Jules has received widespread sympathy from fellow WAGs and the public.
For the Crosleys, the absence of Ben during key family moments—like routine school runs—highlights the personal toll. Tess continues to navigate life in Brisbane amid the glare, focusing on her child while the media speculates on whether her marriage will survive the scrutiny. Ben’s ringless Bali appearance, combined with Tess’s independent handling of daily responsibilities, suggests a significant rift that may mirror the Neales’ own breakdown.
As the AFL off-season progresses, all involved parties remain in the spotlight. The story serves as a cautionary tale of how private relationships can unravel publicly when intertwined with fame, friendship, and infidelity allegations. Whether reconciliation is possible for the Crosleys—or if this marks the end—remains unanswered, but the visual cues of missing rings and solo parenting have spoken volumes to observers.
