Emma Field Supports Boyfriend Lachie Neale at 2026 AFL Grand Final
Field dons a custom jacket proclaiming 'Neale 09' while cheering on the Brisbane Lions player amidst pre-game ban appeal resolution and trade speculation.
Emma Field, girlfriend of Brisbane Lions player Lachie Neale, demonstrated her support at the 2026 AFL Grand Final, wearing a jacket emblazoned with his name and jersey number.
Field, 29, was seen in the stands during the match, sharing photos on Instagram with friends Milly and Sophie Shepherd. The images showed Field and her companions cheering, with their jackets displaying "Neale 09" on the back. Field was also seen braving the Melbourne rain earlier in the day to pick up coffee and food for Neale.
The Grand Final appearance followed a week of uncertainty for Neale, 33, who had successfully appealed a one-match ban that had threatened his participation. The tribunal had initially suspended him for striking Hawthorn's Jack Ginnivan in a preliminary final, but Brisbane's appeal on Thursday secured his place in the premiership decider against Fremantle.
Neale and Field were photographed enjoying a relaxed brunch in Melbourne on Friday, the day after the successful appeal. They were seen smiling and chatting outside a cafe, with Neale having a burger before they returned to the team hotel. Neale was also seen planting a kiss on Field's head as they walked.
The couple had previously been seen holding hands during a coffee date in Brisbane earlier in the week, while Neale's grand final hopes were still uncertain. Despite the resolution of the ban appeal, Neale faced some heckling from Fremantle supporters during the grand final parade in Melbourne.
Neale acknowledged the anxiety surrounding the ban appeal, stating, "Most of the week, really. You're never really sure how these things are going to go. Very happy that it's gone my way." He credited his support system for helping him through the tribulation.
This match could also mark Neale's potential farewell to the Brisbane Lions, as he is reportedly bound for Collingwood next year. Neale expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform, drawing on past finals experiences for their pursuit of a third consecutive Lions premiership.