‘Awful’: Nathan Buckley, ex-wife hounded after 18-year marriage break up

AFL legend and ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has spoken about one of the hardest parts of his separation from his wife of 18 years.

AFL legend Nathan Buckley has spoken out about life as a paparazzi target after his high-profile separation from his wife of 18 years.

Buckley held one of the most heavily-scrutinised jobs in football as head coach of the Collingwood Football Club until he sensationally resigned midway through last season instead of being pushed.

But as of the cast members on Channel 10’s new series of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, the 49-year-old has revealed he hasn’t felt the stare of the public spotlight quite as much as he has since his split with his ex-wife Tania.

Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

Buckley confirmed he had split with Tania in December 2020 despite reported they had broken up before the 2020 AFL season returned from a mid-season suspension and the Magpies spent most of the season on the road.

And a month later, Buckley had started a relationship with cosmetic nurse Alex Pike.

The pair have been targets for paparazzi and gossip columns as pictures of the pair out and about made the news.

Although no stranger to the limelight as a wildly successful footballer, Buckley opened up on the difficulty of being hound for his photo.

Speaking about the invasion of privacy from paparazzi on an episode of I’m A Celeb to air on Tuesday night, former NRL star Beau Ryan turned to ex-Collingwood coach and asked him about his experience.

“I’m going through a separation, so I’ve been out of home for 18 months, a bit over 18 months, nearly two years,” he said. “The paps are following my ex-wife and sometimes with my boys. And they’re also looking for photos for me with my current partner.”

Nathan Buckley on I'm a Celebrity. Photo: Channel 10

The rest of the cast said “that’s awful”, while Buckley elaborated.

“I’ve never understood it until now,” he added before he was asked if it was the first time he’d been in the press.

The 280-game AFL legend who won the 2003 Brownlow Medal, seven all-Australians, was captain of the Magpies for eight years and followed up by coaching Collingwood for the past decade said: “Not in the press but in the bloody Daily Mail”.

In a to-camera piece, Ryan said: “I feel in this world, paps are always going to be around but it’s all good until your family is involved. It’s like everything really. Nathan’s going through it now which is not a good feeling.”

Ryan said it was much different when it was happening to you, saying that in Sydney they moved your bins to block your driveway so that when you got out to move them, the photographer could take the picture.

News of Buckley’s marriage breakdown came as a huge shock to the AFL world, with him and Minnici establishing themselves as one of footy’s golden couples during his playing days with Collingwood.

“It has been a tough and challenging year for every family and for ours included,” the couple’s joint statement said late last year.

“It is with the utmost love and respect for each other and a true commitment to our sons, that we have made a decision to separate in January.

“We remain dedicated parents and in the interests of our boys, we ask for our family to be given the privacy that is needed.

“We thank everyone in advance for understanding our request and for the unconditional love and support we have received throughout our marriage.”

Nathan and Tania Buckley at the 2019 Brownlows. Picture: Jason Edwards

Buckley’s girlfriend Alex Pike. Picture: Instagram

Buckley will stay on screens, moving from the coach’s box to the commentary box on Fox Sports.

Buckley says the deal means he will not be involved in coaching in 2022, but his plans beyond that remain unknown.

“I determined really early that I would take some time to consider my next step in footy so returning to clubland in 2022 was off the table really quickly after leaving Collingwood,” Buckley said.

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! continues Tuesday night from 7.30pm AEDT on Channel 10