Tess Crosley appears downcast outside her Brisbane home as AFL star Lachie Neale’s marriage to her former friend Jules unravels

Tess Crosley cut a downcast figure on Saturday after being spotted outside her Brisbane home amid the ongoing fallout from AFL star Lachie Neale’s marriage breakdown.

The Mormon missionary looked downbeat as she stepped outside her property, just days after Neale confirmed his split from wife Jules and announced he was standing down as Brisbane Lions co-captain.

She rocked a laidback casual style in a fitted white tank top tucked into loose-fitting jeans, paired with flat black slides. 

Tess accessorised with a small black crossbody bag worn across her torso and simple gold jewellery, including a bracelet and watch.

Her dark hair was worn straight and tucked behind her ears, with sunglasses perched on her head, as she appeared preoccupied while standing on the grass outside the home.

At one point, Tess looked off into the distance with a tense expression, her arms folded across her midsection. 

In another image she appeared to fiddle with her hands as she walked slowly along the lawn. 

Tess, who is married to Ben Crosley, was also pictured without her wedding ring. 

It looked to be a quiet outing for the Mormon missionary who has been at the centre of a very public scandal involving AFL star Lachie Neale and his wife Jules. 

On Friday, Lachie announced he would be stepping down as Brisbane Lions co-captain while confirming his split from wife Jules. 

On December 22, Jules publicly demanded her former close friend Tess remove Instagram photos of the Brisbane Lions’ premiership celebrations, telling her in a since-deleted comment that she was ’embarrassing herself’.

Jules then indicated that her marriage to Lachie was over and felt betrayed.

‘I want to make it very clear that I am not “working through” anything,’ she wrote. ‘I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way.’

There is no suggestion that Tess has done anything improper.

On Friday, Lachie was asked point-blank if he cheated on his wife Jules during a tense press conference. 

‘I cannot address those rumours,’ the star midfielder shot back. 

The 32-year-old said he was ‘extremely disappointed’ in himself as he vowed to put ‘plans and measures in place’ to be the best version of himself. 

‘While I will not go into specifics I can say I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions which have hurt those closest to me. And for that, I am deeply sorry,’ Lachie told reporters.

‘I accept this as a consequence of my actions… I need to focus on rebuilding the trust with Jules… Our children remain our number one priority.

‘I understand as a public figure that there is interest in my personal life. However, I do ask the privacy of Jules and my children be respected as we work through our new situation and the next chapter of our lives.’

Prior to the bombshell development, Tess was pictured peering anxiously out of the windows of her Brisbane home while her husband answered the door to police on New Year’s Eve. 

Her partner Ben was shirtless as the two officers arrived at the house just before 1.30pm carrying an unidentified long, black piece of lockable luggage, and two other long black fabric bags, all of which were given to Ben.

He had his arms crossed as he spoke to the police while Tess pulled the curtains aside and watched on.

There is no suggestion that Tess or Ben Crosley engaged in any improper conduct in relation to the visit by police.

A Queensland Police spokesman said officers ‘attended [the address]…  and took possession of a number of items following a welfare check.’

‘There is no criminal matter being investigated; as such, no further information will be provided at this time.’