Cat’s out the bag! Nathan Buckley’s glamorous younger girlfriend Brodie Ryan drops bombshell about their relationship
Footy legend Nathan Buckley’s girlfriend Brodie Ryan has exclusively revealed how the couple are taking their romance to the next level by purchasing a property together in one of Melbourne’s most sought-after suburbs.
The 35-year-old business manager spoke to Daily Mail Australia as she enjoyed the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday – and also opened up about what makes their relationship work.
Ryan and Buckley, 52, have been an item since October 2022 and are regularly spotted on the red carpet at major events such as the AFL’s Brownlow Medal ceremony.
She has described her husband as a ‘hottie’ and he has revealed that he is supporting her in her battle against a health problem that has left her with seizures in recent years.
On Tuesday, Ryan discussed her Christmas holiday plans with the former Collingwood star and coach as she let the cat out of the bag about why their romance is going from strength to strength.
“My last family Christmas was at home in Bendigo, so we might go there, but Nath and I are also getting in the caravan and doing a three-week road trip up the coast to NSW,” she said.
When asked how she would cope with spending three weeks in a caravan with her partner, Ryan didn’t hesitate to answer: ‘We’re doing so well. He’s my best friend, and I’m his.’
But the real eye-opener came when we asked if the couple lived together.
Brodie Ryan and Nathan Buckley’s romance has gone from strength to strength since they first went public in October 2022 (the couple were pictured on Derby Day this year)
Ryan (pictured with Buckley at this year’s Brownlow Medal ceremony) said the key to their romance is the fact they are best friends
“Yes, we bought a house in Elwood and moved in in June,” Ryan replied.
Located just south of St Kilda on the shores of Port Phillip, the suburb has a number of highly sought-after properties, with the average house price around $2.1 million.
Famous Elwood residents past and present include TV and movie stars Asher Keddie, Magda Szubanski and Jane Turner.
In September, Buckley revealed he was helping Ryan battle epilepsy.
“It’s Brodes’ story to tell, but she’s had a few seizures over the last four or five years and she’s still trying to figure out exactly what that is for her,” Buckley said as he took part in a charity event to to raise money for those with the condition.
“She’s had one or two [seizures] the last two and a half years in our relationship and we are in the process of figuring out what is going on and getting to the bottom of this,” he continued.
‘As you can imagine, it’s quite scary to go from operating to actually failing, so she’s working to find out what causes it and how it happens.’
The couple live together in a home they bought in the sought-after Melbourne bayside suburb of Elwood, Ryan exclusively told Daily Mail Australia
Ryan and Buckley are pictured with the former Collingwood star’s sons during an American holiday they took last year
The 35-year-old businesswoman (pictured at this year’s Melbourne Cup) previously praised her husband as a ‘beautiful human being’
Buckley said that by publicly discussing the topic, he hopes to lift the stigma surrounding the disease and help 35-year-old Ryan “understand it a little better.”
Ryan previously revealed that she and Buckley bonded over their similar upbringings.
Despite their 17-year age difference, she said they have so much in common and push each other every day to be the best they can be.
‘Helping others become the best versions of themselves and prioritizing their mental health and wellbeing and giving back to others is a passion that both Nath and I have always shared. These topics initially attracted a lot of attention,” she said.
‘We had a similar upbringing and therefore share many of the same values.
‘I have always been enthusiastic about helping others where I can, and it is inspiring to have a partner who practices the same passion every day with his family, friends and the wider community.
“He’s a beautiful person.”
Ryan also gushed about her man ahead of their date at the Brownlow in September.
“I’m proud to be there with him and proud of all his accomplishments, but he’s just a hottie, so I love being on his arm,” she said.
“He’s going to really polish himself up this year… There aren’t many opportunities in a person’s life, outside of a wedding day or a deb ball, to dress up and feel like a princess for a night.”
Buckley also has no shortage of compliments for his better half.
‘I feel very fortunate to have met a partner in Brodie who I love and respect. Life is good,” he said last year.