Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Former West Coast recruit and promising Demons midfielder Jai Culley will soon become a father for the first time at the age of 23.
The AFL star and his long-term girlfriend Eugenie Templin announced they are expecting their first child together, four days after they also revealed their engagement.
Culley popped the question to Templin last Friday atop a mountain during a Hawaiian getaway to Kauai.
On Thursday, Templin said the couple were “adding another to the itinerary” and also revealed the gender of their growing baby.
“A little boy to love. We can’t wait.”
The pair were flooded with hundreds of messages and well wishes from Culley’s past and present teammates, as well as wider footy fans.
Wife of newly retired Eagles forward Jamie Cripps, Liv Cripps, said: “Congratulations! What an exciting time for you.”
Jack Darling’s wife Courtney Darling said: “Magic. Congratulations guys.”
Nadia Barrass, wife of Eagle Tom Barrass said: “Congratulations you gorgeous fam,” while Eagle Tim Kelly’s partner Caitlin Miller labelled the moment as “bloody special”.
Former teammate Brady Hough said: “So good, congratulations.”
The double happy news comes after Culley ruptured his left ACL in April, just three years after suffering the same injury to his right knee while listed at the West Coast Eagles.
He is set to miss the remainder of the 2026 AFL season.
The trip to Hawaii was not the couple’s first, posting a loved-up snap in 2020 from Oahu as they emerged from the surf.
Culley was drafted from the Dandenong Stingrays to West Coast as pick one in the 2022 mid-season rookie draft.
He was delisted by the Eagles at the end of the 2024 season, returning home to Victoria at the start of 2025 to join Melbourne as an SSP signing.
Impressing in his first 18 months, the promising midfielder signed a contract extension in April 2026 which will keep him at the club until the end of 2028.
