Is Eddie McGuire’s best mate Jeffrey Browne back in Melbourne for Pies CEO job?

Collingwood faithful and former TV managing director Jeffrey Browne wouldn’t shutdown rumours he could be out for the top job at the Pies when pressed by Page 13.

Jeffrey Browne with Eddie McGuire might be best mates, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Browne wouldn’t accept the job as Pies president.

Melbourne’s once most eligible bachelor has packed his saddle bags and returned from the Wild West.

Jeffrey “Buckets” Browne, the former Channel 9 network managing director turned chairman of investment bank Moelis Australia, bought a $4-million plus pile in Brighton late last year.

He prefers to calls it a “lock and leave apartment”. But, hey, his rich-lister wife Rhonda Wyllie refers to her Perth property as “the farm.”

Some farm.

Wyllie, is still home on the range at her 1526-hectare Western Australia property with its waterfalls, manicured man-made lake, floating gazebos and a minigolf course.

“I am still very much married,” says Browne.

“I’m not a bachelor,” he added, which will disappoint many of the chardonnay-sipping ladies gossiping around Braaagghton.

The slimmed down Browne, “yes I’ve been working out”, finds running businesses in Melbourne and Sydney and the newly-acquired Beach Hotel in Byron Bay needs him on the east coast.

Zoom meetings don’t cut it!

David Jones new store launch in the Bourke St Mall. Red Carpet. Eddie McGuire and Channel 9 boss Jeff Browne.

The cashed-up couple, affectionately called Buckets and Mrs Bucketloads, had just celebrated their second anniversary when COVID turned their world upside down.

The pair were married on “The Farm”, in a lavish ceremony over the Easter weekend in 2018 with powerbrokers from television, sport, music, politics and media in attendance.

Guests included Browne’s good friend Eddie McGuire, who did the MC duties, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder, Eileen Bond and former TV power couple David Gyngell and Leila McKinnon.

Naturally no expense was spared with Culture Club superstar and Voice coach Boy George the designated wedding singer performing hits Purple Rain, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, and It’s A Miracle for the 300 guests.

Wyllie’s wealth has been estimated at $400 million and the couple met on a blind date at the Logies in 2013 with Browne later popping the question on Valentine’s Day, no less, at St Kilda institution, Cafe Di Stasio.

Rhonda Wyllie and Jeff Browne on their wedding day.

“Rhonda was in Melbourne for New Years and I am spending Easter back in Perth. It’s all good,” says Browne although a long-distance marriage has put a burr under the saddle.

“Perth is a long way away. It’s five hours and I can’t go to sleep when I get there because it is a three-hour time difference.

“It’s made it impossible to be based there and do what I have to do.”

The tycoon’s return comes at an interesting time for the long-time AFL legal adviser, who has previously been touted as an AFL Commission candidate.

Browne says he’s not interested in that, but there is that job at Collingwood. Buckets played in the U/19s for the Magpies.

Will he stand for the presidency so recently vacated by best mate Eddie?

“All I will say is I am a very dedicated Collingwood person and I’d love to see the club and the team do well. I’m an active supporter and watching like every other supporter.”

That’s not a no. Oh, no, no, no!