AFL star Jack Payne and Bronte Dagg have reportedly split in the latest relationship drama to hit the Brisbane Lions.
A source told The Daily Telegraph that the relationship broke down between the 26-year-old key defender and Dagg in October.
Dagg, a model and medical student, and Payne are understood to have been a couple for eight months before their split.
Daily Mail has contacted both Payne’s representatives and the Brisbane Lions for comment. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Payne.
The source told the outlet that after Brisbane claimed their second successive premiership in September, Dagg had ‘felt something was going wrong’.
Payne and Dagg also appear to have unfollowed each other on Instagram.
AFLplayer Jack Payne and Bronte Dagg have reportedly split up, in what is the latest relationship saga to rock the Brisbane Lions
A source close to a friend of Dagg’s (pictured) is understood to have told The Daily Telegraph that the couple had split up back in October
Payne (pictured) and Dagg also appear to have unfollowed each other on Instagram
But remnants of their relationship can be seen on the social media platform, with Dagg sharing a snap of the pair attending the Lions’ awards night at the beginning of October.
Payne has continued to be active on social media since the reported split.
He has published videos and images of his injury rehabilitation, shared snaps of himself, family and friends over the festive period and was seen enjoying some rest and relaxation on the beach.
Dagg, who reached the finals of Miss Universe Australia in 2024, is said to have studied pre-medicine for several years before switching to study economics.
She is also a successful equestrian showrider and has competed at the EKKA competition at the Royal Queensland Show.
Payne’s season came to an agonising end in June, after the Lions defender ruptured the patella tendon in his knee during the side’s 11-point defeat by the GWS Giants.
The AFL player underwent surgery on the injury and was forced to sit out the remainder of the season, as Chris Fagan’s side went on to win back-to-back premierships.
The footy player, who hails from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, joined the club as the 54th pick in the 2017 National Draft.
In October, Dagg published a snap on her Instagram story of the couple attending a Brisbane Lions awards evening
Payne’s season came to an agonising end in June, after the Lions defender ruptured the patella tendon in his knee during the side’s 11-point defeat by the GWS Giants
Payne joined the Lions in the 2017 National Draft and has since gone on to make 81 appearances for the Lions
He has gone on to make 81 appearances for the Lions, notably enjoying an excellent season in 2024, when Payne helped Brisbane break their 21-year wait for an AFL premiership.
The news comes amid Lachie Neale’s high-profile separation from his wife Julie Neale.
Reports emerged in December that the couple were experiencing some issues in their relationship, with Julie taking to Instagram to claim that she had ‘been betrayed in the most unimaginable way’.
It came after Julie had publicly demanded that her former friend Tess Crosley delete several images of herself, her husband Ben, Lachie and Julie celebrating the Brisbane Lions’ AFL Grand Final victory in September. The comment was later deleted.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Tess.
On January 2, Neale fronted members of the media to confirm that he had split from his wife Julie after eight years of marriage.
Neale also said that he would be stepping down from his role as Brisbane’s captain.
‘While I will not go into specifics, I can say that 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,’ Neale told reporters.
It is the second relationship saga to rock the Lions in recent months, after Brisbane captain Lachie Neale and his wife Julie (pictured) split up
‘I accept this as a consequence of my actions and I need to focus on rebuilding the trust with Jules, as the future wellbeing of our children remains our number one priority.
‘I understand as a public figure that there is interest in my personal life.
‘However, I do ask that the privacy of Jules and my children be respected as we work through our new situation and the next chapter of our lives.’
Neale’s contract is due to expire at the end of 2026, and the 32-year-old has not yet revealed whether he has been offered a new deal or whether he will move elsewhere.
His coach, Chris Fagan, last week stated that the ball was in Neale’s court.
‘So he can make a call on what he needs to do and he probably needs the next six or seven months to see what the next right step is,’ Fagan said.
‘As I say, I hope he stays and plays with us. But if he chooses to move back to Perth because he needs to be closer to his children, then he’ll do that with our blessing.
‘We’re not going to hold anyone to ransom. We’ll just go along with the flow on that.’
