AFL great Billy Brownless turns heads with new woman after break-up

Footy great Billy Brownless’ private life has made headlines this week and new photos show there has been another development.

Billy Brownless has turned heads with a new woman at the Australian Open.

The Geelong cult hero on Monday stepped out with lady “friend” Lizzie in the ritzy Piper-Heidsieck champagne bar at Melbourne Park, sending tongues wagging after a week where the former footballer’s private life has created headlines.

Brownless last week re-united on the airwaves with former Footy Show co-host Garry Lyon for the first time since their ugly 2016 falling out.

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The pair were longtime TV and radio running mates and good friends off-air until Lyon’s relationship with Brownless’ ex-wife Nicky became public.

The two families have in recent years spent Christmas together as one big family.

Brownless, a 198-game Geelong legend, recently spoke about how time has been healing the wounds he suffered during the public marriage breakdown.

Billy Brownless and new girlfriend Lizzie in the Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Bar. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ FIONA HAMILTON.

He has recently returned to the dating world and the sight of him out in public with a new woman has got plenty of attention.

Brownless did not give much away when speaking about “friend” Lizzie with The Herald Sun.

“She’s a friend that loves tennis,” he said.

According to Lizzie, the pair became friends a few years ago and “recently rekindled” their friendship.

Brownless and Lizzie were also spotted watching on inside Rod Laver Arena as world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz won through to the quarter-finals on Monday night.

The news comes months after Brownless split with former partner Justine, who was the first woman Brownless was reported to have had a relationship with following his marriage breakdown.

Nicky and Brownless were together for 18 years before splitting in 2014.

January 22: Billy Brownless and new girlfriend Lizzie in the Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Bar during the 2024 Australian Open on Monday, January 22, 2024. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ FIONA HAMILTON

Billy Brownless watches the fourth round singles match between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia. Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images.

Billy Brownless and new girlfriend Lizzie. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ FIONA HAMILTON

In 2020, Brownless addressed the situation on reality show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

“We separated about four years ago,” he said. “Had a big, big dust-up we did. It was public, very public.

“She just fell out of love, which happens. I didn’t expect it. You think she’ll come back and all that, but she didn’t. So that was a real kick in the guts.”

Garry Lyon and Billy Brownless.

Billy Brownless and Garry Lyon spend Christmas 2022 together with Nicky, Lucy, Ruby, Oscar and Max Brownless, Paddy McCartin and Josh Wallis. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Brownless added that Lyon and he were “not best mates … but one day I suppose we’ll sit down and have a beer, time heals”.

Lyon popped the question to Nicky in December and the couple are celebrating their engagement.

The duo, who have been together for close to eight years, also enjoyed a day out at the tennis in Melbourne alongside daughter Lucy and sons Oscar and Max last week.

Their relationship has blossomed despite facing a series of public scandals right from the beginning.

Their wedding plans have not ben made public.