The AFL stars juggling border closures with new babies or pregnant partners

A raft of AFL players expecting babies or with newborns are juggling the Covid bubble with family and fears they’ll be locked in hubs again.

Kahlia Ashton and Jeremy Howe on their wedding day. Picture: Instagram

Border restrictions and Covid protocols have played havoc with AFL fixtures but also players expecting babies and those with newborns who fear the last resort prospect of being forced into interstate hubs.

St Kilda’s Tim Membrey flew home to be with wife Emily, who is expecting their first child any day now, as did teammate Seb Ross whose wife Marnie recently gave birth to twins.

Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt said he would consider going home having left behind two young daughters.

Among those expecting this year are Nathan and Jerri Jones, with twins; Jessie and Marc Murphy; Jessica and Max Gawn; Jess and Robbie Tarrant and Kahlia and Jeremy Howe. North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell welcomed a daughter, Pippa, on June 1 with fiance Shannie Byrne.

Kahlia Howe, an events manager at Crown, is due to give birth in August – which she hopes presents a dilemma for Jeremy who is eyeing a return after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Howe unveiled her baby bump to model the Kahlia wrap blazer – named after her by a friend who started fashion brand Cailloux.

“It’s hard because the fixture hasn’t been released but I just feel bad because Jeremy missed out pretty much all of last year (with a knee injury) and he’s determined to get back now and to get a few games in at the end of the season,’’ Howe said.

“I didn’t really announce the pregnancy on social media, so the response has been really nice.”

Kahlia Howe wearing the Kahlia wrap blazer from Cailloux

Jeremy and Kahlia Howe at the Australian Open. Picture: Alex Coppel

She added: “I wear the blazer all the time. My girlfriend started the label last year during Covid after working on it for years and it was a challenging time. There’s an eight or nine piece collection and they’ve named each item after a family member or close friend.”

Howe said they will keep the baby’s gender a surprise. Howe’s teammate Chris Mayne is also expecting his second child with wife Britt.

“You don’t get many surprises in life and Jeremy loves a surprise so he wanted to keep it at that,’’ she said.

Others expecting are:

JERRI AND NATHAN JONES

The former Demons captain and wife Jerri already have two children and are due to welcome twins, a boy and a girl. Jerri, who is 23 weeks pregnant, wrote a powerful post to Instagram after suffering a miscarriage last year.

Pregnant Melbourne partners Jessica Lever, Ruby McDonald and Jerri Jones.

JESS AND ROBBIE TARRANT

The North Melbourne defender and his marketer wife Jess are expecting their first child, a baby girl, which she revealed on Instagram in April.

Jess and Robbie Tarrant.

JESSIE AND MARC MURPHY

Former Carlton captain and model wife Jessie have a son Max, 3, and will welcome a baby girl this year. They announced the happy news on February 1.

JESSICA AND MAX GAWN

Melbourne captain Gawn and his physio wife Jess revealed their first baby is due in October. Max joked the timing could present a problem if it coincides with the Melbourne Cup.

Tim and Emily Membrey. Picture: Instagram

EMILY AND TIM MEMBREY

The Saints forward returned home this week from Sydney to be by his wife’s side as she’s due any day now with their first child.

New babies:

Jack Ziebell and Shannie Byrne.

SHANNIE BYRNE AND JACK ZIEBELL

The newest AFL baby is little Pippa, welcome by the North Melbourne veteran and fiance Shannie on June 1.

CARLY AND JACK RIEWOLDT

Richmond forward and wife Carly welcomed their second daughter Hazel on December 29. “Smothered with love from her rough yet adoring big sister Poppy,’’ Jack wrote on Instagram.

STACEY AND JAKE MELKSHAM

Demon and former Bomber Jake and wife Stacey welcomed Alfie on May 6, a brother for Frankie and Teddy. “Family complete,’’ Melksham wrote on Instagram.

Jake Melksham with children Frankie, Teddy and newborn Alfie

ANNABEL AND ROBBIE GRAY

The Port Adelaide star and wife Bel welcome Willow in March, a sister for Aston and Clementine.

Robbie and Annabel Gray with Aston, Clementine and newborn Willow.

MARNIE AND SEB ROSS

St Kilda star Seb posted the first picture of his twin boys, Vinny and Henley, with their sister Charlotte, on May 19. “Father of three” he wrote with three love hearts.

Seb and Marnie Ross, with daughter Charlotte and twin sons Vinny and Henley

BEL AND RORY SLOANE

Adelaide midfielder Sloane and wife Bel welcomed Bodhi in January, a brother to Sonny. “The perfect third addition to our little boys club,’’ Bel wrote on Instagram.