Billy Brownless opens up after celebrating one-year anniversary
AFL great turned media personality Billy Brownless has opened up celebrating an anniversary years after his marriage broke down.
Billy Brownless has opened up on his blossoming romance after celebrating his one year anniversary with partner Justine.
The Geelong legend, 56, kept his new romance under wraps before the pair went public in November after months of rumours.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The former star forward turned media personality said the pair were still kicking goals a year after their flame ignited.
“We’re still together, believe it or not,” he said to the Herald Sun.
“It’s been over a year, the poor thing I feel sorry for her, but she’s a good girl. She’s got her kids and I’ve got mine.
“When you’ve been single for a long time it’s bloody hard work. She deserves a medal.”
Brownless first opened up on the relationship with Justine during the 2023 Australian Open, explaining the pair were taking things slow.
“Everything is going well,” Brownless said.
“Taking it one week at a time as they say. We’re very happy and it’s nice to be out.”
The happy couple were reportedly introduced by Brownless’ good mate and fellow AFL great Leigh Montagna and his wife Erin.
The relationship comes years after his marriage breakdown left him in a bitter feud with former best mate Garry Lyon.
Brownless endured a messy split with his now ex-wife Nicky in 2016 in a saga that saw the two mates fallout.
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.
The pair have spent the past three Christmas’ together, burying the hatchet after plenty of bad blood.
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.
“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.
Coach’s shock reveal amid Daniher retirement
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has revealed Joe Daniher’s retirement was far from a surprise as he exits as a premiership winner.
Neale again the leading Lion
It was a closely fought battle for the Merrett-Murray Medal, the prize awarded to the Brisbane Lions’ player of the season.
Free trade tracker: Dons eyeing Giants’ first-round pick
Trade requests, the latest rumours and every player linked with your club. Stay across every big AFL trade story and see who could be on the move in our Trade Tracker.