AFL great Billy Brownless steps out with new partner Justine at the races

Billy Brownless was hinting he’d been “taking it slow” with a new partner – now he’s happily revealed his new relationship to the world.

AFL great Billy Brownless has gone public with his new girlfriend Justine for the first time.

The Geelong legend attended the TAB Champions Stakes Day last Saturday with his new love interest, as well as his daughters Lucy and Ruby.

The 55-year-old was pictured alongside Justine at the Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse, with the pair both brandishing huge smiles.

The Herald Sun reports the pair received “warm well wishes” from other punters at Stakes Day, as well as from the partners of Billy’s daughters, Aussie rules players Paddy McCartin and Josh Wallis.

The happy couple were reportedly introduced by Brownless’ good mate and fellow AFL great Leigh Montagna and his wife Erin.

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Billy Brownless and his partner Justine pictured at Flemington.

Paddy McCartin and Lucy Brownless

The two couples recently holidayed together in Fiji, according to reports.

Their happy day out at the races came after Brownless revealed to the Herald Sun in August that he had been “taking it slow” in a new relationship, six years after his marriage breakdown left him in a bitter feud with former best mate Garry Lyon.

“It’s really new and a nice little friendship. We’re going all right and taking it slowly,” Brownless said.

It comes after Brownless’ Triple M colleagues had joked about the former All-Australian being spotted on dates with a mystery woman.

Speaking to the Herald Sun in July, the media personality said he was looking to fall in love again.

“We are keeping our options open and we are just out there,” Brownless mused.

“It is a big ocean so we are fishing.

“I am not a very good fisherman, by the way, but I am a fisherman.”

Billy Brownless, Nicky Brownless and Garry Lyon celebrate Christmas 2020 together with the Brownless children Ruby, Max, Oscar and Lucy. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Brownless endured a messy split with his now ex-wife Nicky in 2016 in a saga that saw an ugly feud between the Geelong great and Lyon.

The footy greats turned commentators marriages had both ended before Lyon and Nicky began dating in 2016.

The former friends had a bitter falling out but it appears the pair and their partners have let bygones be bygones and rekindled their friendship in recent years.

In 2020 and 2021, the pair spent Christmas together, burying the hatchet after plenty of bad blood.

It came after Brownless declared on Sam Newman’s You Cannot Be Serious podcast in September 2020 that “there’s no Christmas cards yet but we have spoken a couple of times”.

“At the time you go through all different emotions of course,” Brownless told Newman at the time.

“‘Why me?’ and a bit of hatred of course.

Nicky Brownless, Garry Lyon, Max Brownless, Billy Brownless and Lucy Brownless celebrate Lucy's birthday in March 2021. Picture: Supplied

“But now mate, it’s been four or five years, I’ve come around and everyone is in a good spot to be honest. Garry and Nicky are — that’s fine — and the kids are (too).

“That was the other big problem (at the time). Young Maxy was about 10, Oscar was about 14, the girls (Lucy and Ruby) were 16, 17.

“It was so public that was the biggest problem. It was so public. On TV, in the papers, front page of the Geelong Addy.

“It was hard at the time because it was so public. I’d walk into a coffee shop and I’d swear everyone was looking at me and talking about it and they weren’t.”

Brownless said he’d been told early on it would take two years for him to get over the betrayal but “two wasn’t right”.

In late 2021 Brownless retired from TV after 27 years on screen.