Inside Albo and Jodie’s Melbourne love match

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon might be staunch Sydneysiders, but their love story was sparked by a chance Melbourne meeting.

It started with a mutual love for the Rabbitohs before they scored over a real life connection.

Anthony Albanese, who had split from his wife of almost 20 years in 2019, wasn’t looking for love when he agreed to meet Jodie Haydon, who had slid into his Twitter DMs, for a drink.

But the pair were the only two in the room who supported the South Sydney NRL club when they were ironically at an event in AFL stronghold Melbourne.

It was an instant bond over a shared passion while he was the keynote speaker at a national union conference at a hotel.

Anthony Albanese proposed to his partner Jodie Haydon on Valentine’s Day. ️

He called for any South Sydney supporters in the crowd to make themselves known and Jodie called out “up the Rabbitohs!”.

She was there through her work as strategic partnerships manager of industry superannuation fund First State Super.

They shared a beer and then Covid hit, but it gave them more time to get to know each other.

They hung out together at home in Sydney, bingeing on TV shows, learning each others’ tastes in music, radio, food and pastimes.

The happy couple at the 2024 Australian Open men’s final. Picture: Getty Images

In April last year Albanese was quizzed by his friend, radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands, about when he would pop the question.

“When will you propose to Jodie, Prime Minister? Is that on the agenda?” Sandilands asked. The Prime Minister quipped: “I don’t think that’s a matter for KIIS FM to determine, strangely”.

They bonded over their mutual love of the Rabbitohs. Picture: David Swift

Sandilands later put it to the Prime Minister whether Haydon is his “twin flame”.

“She is certainly a very dear partner. And we have a great relationship,” Albanese said.

It wasn’t the most romantic of starts but “hey, we’re both single” was Haydon’s philosophy.

“We had what I thought would just be a drink at Young Henrys in Newtown, and we got on really well. That’s how it started,” Albanese said.

Ms Haydon said she instantly felt comfortable with the future Prime Minister. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Haydon enjoys Albo’s ‘playful’ side. Picture: AFP

Haydon has said they instantly felt comfortable.

“He had a public profile and I didn’t, so I knew that we both followed the same footy team, we both had a love for the inner west and I think I said in that direct message ‘hey, we’re both single.’

“In some ways I think I said that... just more so that he would feel comfortable in my company.’’

The pair met again coincidentally at another work function at NSW Trades Hall.

Haydon says she enjoyed seeing the “playful’’ side of Albanese through the years and how they had many shared interests. It didn’t take too long for her to score a piece of his heart.