AFL stars address ‘vicious’ teammate affair rumour

Geelong’s Gary Rohan and a star teammate have been forced to address swirling whispers of a love affair involving the wife of a player.

Gary Rohan of the Cats and his partner Madi Bennett embrace as he enters the field for his 150th match with his daughters Bella Ray and Sadie Rose.

Geelong star Gary Rohan has robustly denied “vicious” rumours linking him with the wife of teammate Lachie Henderson.

Both Rohan and Henderson on Friday slammed the swirling whispers being spread online.

Rohan’s private life has been making headlines in recent years following his messy divorce from ex-wife Amie Rohan, a popular Instagram influencer.

However, the latest gossip online has been instantly dismissed as nothing more than a disgusting act of online slander.

The false claims suggested Rohan had been involved in an affair with Rebecca Klodinsky, Henderson’s wife and high-profile founder of the popular swimwear brand IIXIIST.

The former Sydney Swans star responded to the rumours with a blunt message on social media.

Madi Bennett and Gary Rohan.

“I can handle rumours about myself, and have been dealt my fair share in the last 12 months. But it’s crossing the line when you start rumours in light of someone’s personal circumstances,” Rohan posted.

“This needs to be called out. No one has any idea what is going on in someone else’s personal life, and people need to be better at being considerate of this. With another lockdown on the horizon, let’s get around each other and support one another. You never know when someone needs your support. Be better.”

Henderson showed support for his teammate in his own social media post hours later.

“Love ya @garyrohan16. I second your comments mate “lets get around each other and support one another”. There is enough going on in his world at the moment,” he wrote.

“Vicious rumours that are funny to people don’t help at all. Making things up that are completely false in every way can hurt a lot. Be kind and realise you just never know what each individual is dealing with. You just never know in that moment what that one person has on their plate.”

CANDID snaps of Geelong star Lachie Henderson and girlfriend Rebecca Klodinsky in AFL hub, Supplied

Gary Rohan during his milestone game this year.

According to The Herald Sun, Klodinsky says the rumours have been “hurtful” for everyone involved.

Rohan’s relationship with his new partner Madi Bennett has recently been confirmed following reports they have been dating since the start of the year.

The couple shared a kiss in front of thousands as the 29-year-old led his Cats teammates out onto the MCG for his 150-game milestone moment in May.

Bennett was seen during the live broadcast standing at the end of the player’s race alongside his children, daughters Bella and Sadie Rose.

Rohan had previously refused to address his romantic life before reports emerged that the new woman in his life was Bennett, a physiotherapist who once worked for the Cats.

It was rumoured that the new relationship led to friction between Rohan and teammate Tom Hawkins, who reportedly confronted Rohan about his behaviour inside the AFL’s COVID-19 bubble last year. The teammates have since been spotted smiling alongside each other several times.

Rohan’s four-year marriage reportedly ended when the AFL went into its bubble in 2020, just months after the birth of the pair’s third child Sadie Rose in March last year.

Amie and Gary were childhood sweethearts and married in 2016.