Abbey Holmes and Lachie Neale have sent a clear message to their detractors by again sharing a polite kiss in the aftermath of Brisbane’s AFL grand final victory.
The Brisbane Lions rebounded from last year’s grand final heartbreak in stunning fashion, belting 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) win at the MCG on Saturday, which completes the Lions’ long climb to the summit under Chris Fagan.
After the final siren, Holmes interviewed Neale and the pair shared a quick kiss on the cheek as they had earlier in the year.
The AFL commentator had previously come under fire for a kiss on the cheek that she shared with Neale after an on-field interview in round 13.
The pair, friends off the pitch, ignited a debate over whether the kiss was appropriate, with some commentators claiming it crossed a line.
Holmes, a former AFLW player, responded by describing the response as ‘really upsetting’.
‘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 following the AFL final
This quick kiss between friends was what sparked the controversy earlier in the season
Footy fans saw the grand final kiss as a strong message to those outraged by the original act.
‘Love that Lachie Neale kissed Abbey Holmes with even more gusto than the last time. Normalise friends showing platonic affection,’ posted one fan.
Neale was overjoyed about Saturday’s result.
‘I can’t put it into words, I bloody love this group,’ he told Holmes.
‘After everything we went through last year and then the start of this year. No words can describe how proud I am and how much I love this footy club. It’s unbelievable.’
Holmes is a former AFLW player and respected AFL commentator
The Brisbane Lions have rebounded from last year’s grand final heartbreak in stunning fashion, belting Sydney by 60 points to claim their first AFL premiership in more than two decades
It has been a year full of adversity after Brisbane’s four-point defeat 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 from Las Vegas last October, which threatened to leave the playing group in tatters.
It was reported in April a rift developed between Lions teammates over what happened in Sin City – and some players had ‘tough conversations’ with each other as a result.
Following a slow start to their campaign, Brisbane were teetering at different stages – falling to 2-5 and 4-6-1 – before a nine-match winning streak lifted them back into premiership contention.
