Shared photos reportedly at centre of Brisbane Lions’ US trip as club denies player rift

Samantha Rogers
The Nightly
Brisbane Lions players on their Nashville trip.
Brisbane Lions players on their Nashville trip. Credit: Instagram

More details have emerged about the ill-fated Brisbane Lions’ off-season trip, with compromising photos taken in the US reportedly at the centre of the scandal.

After revelations a player had accidentally synced his WhatsApp group chat between teammates to his iCloud, which was then accessed by his partner back home and shared between partners, more details have come to light.

The Herald Sun revealed on Sunday that several compromising photos were shared in the group chat, which caused at least one player to split from his partner.

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While some reportedly flew home early from the States, one player is understood to have landed back in Australia single as a result of the saga.

Brisbane held a crisis meeting over the weekend with senior leaders quizzed about rumours of a rift as a result of the fallout of the overseas trip.

While the players involved have not been named, co-captain Lachie Neale, Eric Hipwood, Cameron Rayner, Jaxon Prior, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey and Lincoln McCarthy were among the Lions to travel to the US during the off-season.

Those players were joined by current and former players from Brisbane and rival clubs.

Brisbane have shot down suggestions that the US trip is linked to their poor start to the season. The Lions are winless from three starts this season, including two losses at the Gabba.

Neale, fellow co-captain Harris Andrews and other senior club figures are adamant their 0-3 start is a result of on-field woes and not a divided locker room.

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