Get to know Lachie

Growing up on a farm, Lachie was shaped by the strong support of his blended family, including his dad, Robbie, and stepdad, Brett. A pivotal figure in his journey to the AFL was Tim Lawrence, whom he met at 17. Lachie’s professional career began in Perth, where he met his wife, Jules, though their relationship didn’t blossom until years later. They eventually married and welcomed their daughter, Piper, in 2021.

Fatherhood has profoundly impacted Lachie, grounding him and giving him a sense of purpose beyond football. “Piper’s smile and hugs at the end of a long day instantly put things into perspective,” Lachie says, noting how she makes everything else seem less important. As Piper approaches her third birthday, her emerging personality brings daily laughter and joy into his life.

Lachie and Jules are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of their second child, a baby boy, due in December 2024. The couple’s journey to conceive through IVF was challenging, and Lachie is immensely proud of Jules’ strength throughout the process. “I’m incredibly grateful for Jules and everything she’s done to make this possible,” he shares.

Having Jules and Piper watch him play brings Lachie immense happiness and motivation on game days. “Seeing them in the rooms after a game is one of my favourite memories,” he recalls. Piper, already showing an interest in sports, enjoys catching and throwing, hinting she might follow in her dad’s athletic footsteps.

Lachie applies lessons from AFL to his parenting, particularly patience and teamwork. He’s committed to being fully present during family time, ensuring that distractions don’t interfere with his role as a father. “Parenting, like sports, requires patience and working together as a team,” Lachie reflects.

One of Lachie’s most memorable moments with Piper was during the Grand Final parade last year, which coincided with her birthday. Piper joined him in the Ute, waving to the crowd, an experience Lachie looks forward to recounting when she’s older. “Her smile and innocence in that moment made it incredibly special,” Lachie says.

Looking to the future, Lachie is excited to see how his children will grow and develop, eager to support them in whatever paths they choose. “Every part of the day with Piper is my favourite, but our morning coffee and babyccino routine is especially special,” Lachie shares.

Jules, the heart of their family, keeps everything together despite Lachie’s hectic schedule. She manages to work as a hairdresser while being an exceptional mum and partner. “Jules is amazing—she’s the glue that holds us all together,” Lachie says.

Looking ahead, Lachie dreams of taking his family to Japan, a place that holds special memories for him and Jules. Post-AFL, he envisions staying involved in sports but is equally excited for new adventures with his growing family.

QNow, what’s it like being a dad to Piper? How much do you enjoy it?

AI love being a dad so much, I think it has grounded me a lot and made me a better all-round person. She gives me more purpose in my life and in particular my football but a great distraction from my professional life too! Coming home after a day at training or a game, her smile and hugs make everything else that day feel less important! She is almost 3 now so her personality is well and truly on show, and it makes me laugh every day without fail. 

QHow do you feel when Piper watches you play, does she like to get involved?

AI’ve said to Jules a few times that it’s the best feeling in the world knowing she and Piper are at the games watching me play, it puts the biggest smile on my face, and I think about it pre-game. Piper is pretty good with her catching and throwing already so we might have a little netballer at this stage!

QAre there any lessons from AFL that you apply to parenting?

AProbably a few, one I can think of straight away is patience. Another one is when I’m training, I’m quite focused on being the best I can be for that session whatever that may be. I’ve tried to take that approach to parenting as well, and not let things distract me when it’s family time, etc. 

QDo you have any memorable or funny moments with Piper?

AWe’ve had plenty already! I’m lucky we’ve been able to travel around as a family a bit already and we had a trip to Fiji together last off-season which was amazing. Family Christmas’ in Perth or country SA with our families are special times too.

QWhat's your favourite activity with the Piper?

AWe have been doing a lot of drawing and painting lately which is always fun but as I mentioned before the little coffee date is my favourite activity with her.