Essendon Star Jaxon Prior Engaged to Bronte Thompson
AFL player Jaxon Prior and his partner Bronte Thompson are celebrating their engagement, with congratulatory messages pouring in from prominent figures across Australian sports. The couple announced their happy news on Tuesday, sharing photos of the proposal that took place at the luxurious Jackalope Hotel on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula. Their announcement, captioned ‘We’re getting married!’, was met with well wishes from swimming champion Ariarne Titmus, commentator Grace Hayden, and a host of AFL stars including Harris Andrews, Ben McKay, Kai Lohmann, Andrew McGrath, and Xavier Duursma.
Scandal Erupts Following ‘Hit List’ Leak
This joyous occasion follows a period of controversy for Thompson, who was inadvertently drawn into a scandal involving the Brisbane Lions’ confidential player analysis. Just over a month prior to the engagement announcement, leaked photos surfaced online, revealing the Lions’ ‘hit list’ detailing the perceived strengths and weaknesses of Essendon players ahead of a match on May 2. Prior, who previously played for the reigning premiers before joining the Bombers last season, was a notable subject of these leaked notes.
The leaked images, which appeared on a Facebook page, showcased the Brisbane team’s whiteboard observations on Essendon’s key players. Notably, Jaxon Prior’s sole listed strength was identified as ‘Bronte,’ referring to his partner, Bronte Thompson. In contrast, other Essendon players were described with terms like ‘selfish’ for former captain Zach Merrett and ‘low confidence’ for defender Ben McKay.
Public Reaction and Club Response
The public reaction to the leaked list was largely critical, with many expressing dismay at the inclusion of personal relationships. Online commentary described the notes as ‘toxic’ and ‘sexist,’ with some suggesting it reflected poorly on the Brisbane club. One commenter remarked, ‘Listing Jaxon Prior’s only strength as his Partner, probably speaks of the toxic masculinity that runs through that club.’ Another added, ‘Jeez that’s ordinary … bringing partners and families into that setting is a really slippery slope and a big no-no, it should never have been written down.’
In-Joke or Inappropriate Sledge?
However, a segment of supporters proposed that the comment was an inside joke, particularly given Prior’s tenure with the Lions until the end of the 2024 season. These fans suggested that the 24-year-old might have found humor in the jab about ‘punching above his weight’ when he began dating Thompson. Visuals of Prior with Thompson during his time with the Lions accompanied reports of this aspect of the leak.
Club Officials Address the Comment
Following the public outcry, players and coach Chris Fagan from the Brisbane Lions reached out to Jaxon Prior. Brisbane coach Chris Fagan stated, ‘I spoke to Jaxon out on the field after the game, as did a lot of our players, and had a bit of a laugh and a joke together. Remember that player played at our club, and players all know him, and we know his partner as well, and there was nothing bad intended at all with that comment, not at all, zero.’
Lions player Josh Dunkley also confirmed he spoke with Prior after the match, noting, ‘He’s all good, which is nice. We love “Priz” and he’s been at our footy club for a long period of time so it’s good to see him going well for the Bombers.’
