Footy legend Nathan Buckley looks fit enough to play in the AFL as he steps out with his glamorous girlfriend
- Former Collingwood coach and star is in great form
- Spotted in Melbourne with his partner Brodie Ryan
He hasn’t played a game of AFL in 17 years, but Collingwood great Nathan Buckley looked like he could secure a spot in the Magpies side when he was recently spotted with girlfriend Brodie Ryan in Melbourne.
The former Pies star and coach was spotted having coffee with his partner in South Yarra this week, both dressed in training gear that showed off how hard they have been working on their bodies.
Buckley and Ryan also achieved good marks when they appeared on the red carpet for the Brownlow Medal count in Melbourne late last month.
“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,” Ryan said.
‘He’s going to scrub himself up really well this year and he’ll be dressed by Bianca and Peter Jackson.
“There aren’t many opportunities in anyone’s life, outside of a wedding day or a deb ball, to dress up and feel like a princess for a night.”
Buckley and Ryan started dating in June 2022, with the socialite rejecting any attempts to stereotype her as a footy WAG.
“I’m an independent woman and I’m my own person,” she said in October that year.
Nathan Buckley and his girlfriend Brodie Ryan were the picture of physical health as they stepped out in South Yarra earlier this week
Buckley was known as one of the toughest players in the game during his playing career and he took no shortcuts with his training regimen in retirement
‘If he wasn’t who he was, we would still be enjoying our time together in a chilled environment and be in our element making dinner at home.
“We have such a normal relationship and we want to keep it that way.”
Their relationship followed Buckley’s split from his ex, Alex Pike, who he started dating in early 2021 after splitting from ex-wife Tania Minnici after 18 years together.
The Magpies’ great TV commentator was known as one of the toughest men in the game during his playing days, and he has kept himself in top form since ending his 280-match AFL career in 2007.
Earlier this year he shared some of his exercise tips ahead of the Masters Games in Alice Springs, focusing on the benefits of weightlifting.
“Throwing around some iron can help prevent injuries and give yourself the best chance to perform,” he wrote on Instagram.
The couple attracted a lot of attention on the Brownlow Medal red carpet last month
“It all comes back to basics…Whether you lift a little or a lot, it will help you be more robust and ready to go.”
The post included a video of Buckley working out his chest and biceps at the gym, and he also posted others emphasizing the importance of cardio exercise on a treadmill, bike or rowing machine, as well as regular stretching.
Last month, the 52-year-old made a harsh admission about his ‘scandalous’ behavior when he was among the game’s best players.
“The man who had tears streaming down his face was grateful that it rained every now and then because he never wanted to show weakness, never wanted to show vulnerability,” Buckley said.
‘And I think if people knew, they’d be like, “Um…freak”.’
Buckley said he rarely asked for help, which often left him isolated, and that his attitude on and off the field was “disgraceful.”
“It was partly a protective mechanism,” he said.