- Lachie Neale and Abbey Holmes kiss after AFL final
- The couple sparked controversy earlier this year after a similar act.
- Brisbane Lions roar to victory in Saturday’s grand final
Abbey Holmes and Lachie Neale have sent a clear message to their detractors by once again sharing a polite kiss after Brisbane’s AFL grand final victory.
The Brisbane Lions bounced back from the heartbreak of last year’s grand final in stunning fashion, beating Sydney by 60 points to claim their first AFL premiership in more than two decades.
Lachie Neale (33 disposals) and Norm Smith Medal winner Will Ashcroft (30) starred in the 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) victory at the MCG on Saturday, which completes the Lions’ long rise to the top with Chris Fagan.
After the final siren, Holmes interviewed Neale and the pair shared a quick kiss on the cheek as they had done earlier in the year.
The AFL commentator had previously been criticized for a kiss on the cheek she shared with Neale after an on-field interview in round 13.
The pair, friends off the court, sparked a debate over whether the kiss was appropriate, with some commentators claiming it crossed the line.
Holmes, a former AFLW player, responded, describing the response as “really disturbing”.
“Jules Neale…sent me a message this morning saying, ‘I hope you’re okay, this is ridiculous,'” Holmes said at the time.
Lachie Neale and Abbey Holmes shared a polite kiss on the cheek after the AFL final
This quick kiss between friends was what sparked controversy at the beginning of the season.
Footy fans saw the final big kiss as a strong message to those outraged by the original act.
‘I love that Lachie Neale kissed Abbey Holmes with more enthusiasm than last time. Normalize friends by showing platonic affection,’ one fan posted.
Neale was very happy with the result on Saturday.
“I can’t put it into words, I love this group,” he told Holmes.
‘After everything we went through last year and then the beginning of this year. There are no words to describe how proud I am and how much I love this football club. “It’s incredible.”
Holmes is a former AFLW player and a respected AFL commentator.
The Brisbane Lions have bounced back from the heartbreak of last year’s grand final in stunning fashion, beating Sydney by 60 points to claim their first AFL premiership in more than two decades.
It has been a year filled with adversity following Brisbane’s four-point loss to Collingwood in last season’s decider, with the Lions losing five players to long-term knee injuries early in the 2024 campaign.
The club also had to endure a scandal in Las Vegas last October, which threatened to leave the playing group in tatters.
In April it was reported that a rift developed between Lions teammates over what happened in Sin City and, as a result, some players had “difficult conversations” with each other.
After a slow start to their campaign, Brisbane faltered at different stages (they fell to 2-5 and 4-6-1) before a nine-match winning streak put them back in contention for top spot.