It’s been a massive 2024 for Lachie Neale.

After claiming an elusive premiership as co-captain of the Brisbane Lions, the dual Brownlow Medallist and his wife Jules have welcomed a baby boy.

The pair announced the arrival of Freddie Oliver Neale on social media this week, with the Lions star captioning a photo of him beaming and the newborn wearing a Santa hat: “Welcome to the world, Freddie.”

“You complete our little family,” Jules wrote on Instagram, along with a photo of the couple’s adorable three-year-old daughter Piper Rose holding her little brother.

Brisbane shared a series of photos to the club’s official account, congratulating the pair on their new arrival.

“Christmas came early for the Neales,” the caption read. “Congratulations to Jules & Lachie on the arrival of their baby boy.”

The account then tagged Lachie, cheekily asking “when can he start training?”

Lachie played 135 games for Fremantle after being drafted with pick 58 in 2011, meaning his son would be qualified to join the club as a father-son selection for both the Dockers and Lions in the future.

He was traded to the Lions ahead of the 2019 season, playing 137 games including the club’s premiership victory this year.

The 31-year-old claimed the AFL’s highest individual honour in 2020 and 2023, the Brownlow Medal.