Former West Coast Eagles recruit and current Melbourne Demons midfielder Jai Culley, 23, and his long-term girlfriend Eugenie Templin have announced they are expecting their first child together, a baby boy. The news comes just four days after the couple revealed their engagement during a Hawaiian getaway to Kauai.
Engagement and Pregnancy Announcement
Culley proposed to Templin last Friday atop a mountain on the island of Kauai. On Thursday, Templin shared the pregnancy news on social media, writing, “Adding another to the itinerary” and confirming the gender: “A little boy to love. We can’t wait.”
The double announcement was met with hundreds of congratulatory messages from Culley’s past and present teammates and footy fans. Among them, Liv Cripps, wife of retired Eagles forward Jamie Cripps, said, “Congratulations! What an exciting time for you.” Courtney Darling, wife of Jack Darling, added, “Magic. Congratulations guys.” Nadia Barrass, wife of Eagle Tom Barrass, commented, “Congratulations you gorgeous fam,” while Caitlin Miller, partner of Eagle Tim Kelly, called it “bloody special.” Former teammate Brady Hough simply said, “So good, congratulations.”
Injury and Career Update
The happy news follows Culley’s recent setback: he ruptured his left ACL in April 2026, just three years after suffering the same injury to his right knee while at West Coast. He will miss the remainder of the 2026 AFL season. Despite this, Culley signed a contract extension in April 2026 that keeps him at Melbourne until the end of 2028.
Culley was originally 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 and returned to Victoria at the start of 2025, joining Melbourne as a supplemental selection period (SSP) signing. He impressed in his first 18 months at the club, leading to the contract extension.
Hawaii Connection
The trip to Hawaii was not the couple’s first; they posted a loved-up photo from Oahu in 2020, emerging from the surf. The engagement and pregnancy announcements have drawn widespread attention, with many fans celebrating the couple’s joy amid Culley’s injury challenges.
