Melbourne Vixens defender Rudi Ellis opens up on engagement to Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English

Melbourne Vixens star Rudi Ellis has opened up on her engagement to Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English, where she hopes to tie the knot and who is the best cook in the house.

Melbourne Vixens star Rudi Ellis has revealed plans for a country wedding on her family’s farm where her long-time partner, AFL ruckman Tim English, popped the question.

The week after sharing news of their engagement, Ellis has opened up on the sporting couple’s “special moment”.

While preferring to keep some of the finer details of the engagement private, Ellis revealed the Western Bulldogs star proposed at her family’s farm near Mansfield in country Victoria.

“We went back to our family – mum and dad’s – family farm and just spent the day together and he asked the question that day,” Ellis said.

“It was just with beautiful views and paddocks and hills in the background so it was a very beautiful spot to do it.

Rudi Ellis and Tim English are engaged. Picture: Instagram

“It was definitely surprising, but super exciting we got to spend that special moment together and it was pretty much straight into training the next morning for both of us.

“We are just both over the moon and really looking forward to planning a wedding.”

The pair is yet to set a date for the wedding, but Ellis, who made her Diamonds’ debut last year, is already certain of where she wants the nuptials to take place.

“We are hoping to get married on the farm when we do lock in a day,” Ellis said.

“It is just a special place for us. So hopefully we can organise something soon, but I’ll just have to fit it around the seasons and training schedules.”

The Vixens’ goal keeper and Dogs’ big man, both 27, have been together for almost eight years after meeting through friends in Melbourne.

Rudi Ellis shows off her engagement ring. Picture: Instagram

During that time, they juggled a long-distance relationship for almost four years while she was interstate playing for the Queensland Firebirds and then the West Coast Fever and he was based in Melbourne.

“It definitely had its challenges,” said Ellis, now in her second season with the Vixens, of the long-distance juggle.

“It sucks not being able to see the person you love and as often, especially when Covid was thrown in the mix it made things a little bit trickier in terms of being able to fly and that kind of thing with restrictions.

“At the same time I feel like it gave us both a chance to grow up a little bit, too, experience new things while still being together.

“It has just made us even stronger being able to get through that and come back and enjoy living together and seeing each other more than once a month.

“It has been awesome being back in Melbourne and being back with him.”

Tim English and Rudi Ellis at the Western Bulldogs Best and Fairest – Charles Sutton Medal. Picture: Ian Currie

The towering couple is one of the tallest in sport – English stands at 208cm and Ellis at 190cm – and they find it hard to go unnoticed when out together.

“Both of our families are very tall as well,” Ellis said.

“When we’re all walking around together, we do look like the land of the giants.

“Hopefully if we ever have kids we can get them into sport quickly.”

Ellis and English attend each other’s matches whenever their respective schedules allow.

The Vixens’ defender said there were plenty of benefits to having a fellow sports star as a partner who was familiar with the “rollercoaster” of being a professional athlete.

“It’s also really good having a partner that understands the sport element,” Ellis said.

“It can be a rollercoaster throughout the season and throughout the year so just being able to speak to someone who kind of gets what I am talking about, understands when you’re tired and crappy, you’re both on the same page with how you’re feeling after a big session.

Rudi Ellis in action for Melbourne Vixens. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“It’s really good with eating as well. We both want to make nutritious meals to fuel your body right and sleep. I think that greater understanding and having someone who is on the same schedule as you makes a huge difference.”

So, who is the cook in the house?

“Tim actually is. I have learned to cook pretty much from him, which is not something I am proud of, but definitely getting better,” Ellis said.

“He is quite handy in the kitchen, so I am very lucky.

“He loves a BBQ, so he cooks a very mean steak and just sweet potato and salad is probably his go-to, but he really does mix it up a lot which is great for me.”

Originally published as Melbourne Vixens defender Rudi Ellis opens up on engagement to Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English