Rumour mill goes into overdrive as newly single AFL great Nathan Buckley follows a glamorous cosmetic nurse on his private Instagram - weeks after announcing shock split with his wife
AFL coach and newly single Nathan Buckley has set tongues wagging after following a glamorous cosmetic nurse on his private Instagram account.
Buckley's online friendship comes just weeks after the Collingwood coach and champion midfielder announced his split from his wife of 18 years, Tania Minnici.
The glamorous cosmetic nurse under the spotlight is Alex Pike, a single mother-of-three, who is based at South Yarra, just outside Melbourne's CBD.
She is best known for her thriving cosmetic business, Face by Alex Pike.
With Buckley's social media locked away from the public, the innuendo surrounding arguably Melbourne’s most in-demand bachelor could reach fever-pitch levels over the coming weeks.
Cosmetic surgeon to the stars Alex Pike (pictured above) has set the rumour mill into overdrive
AFL legend Nathan Buckley (pictured left) split from his wife of 18 years Tania (pictured right) in 2020
The 48-year-old is said to be a prolific user of his Instagram account, Nth Caulfield Bogan.
According to the Herald Sun, Buckley is happily single and very much ready to mingle.
Last December, Buckley and his wife, Tania, confirmed their long-rumoured separation in a statement posted on social media.
Once known for their show-stopping red carpet appearances and seemingly rock-solid marriage, the pair shocked fans when they confirmed they had secretly parted ways, ending 18 years of marriage.
In a statement posted to Tania's Instagram, the Buckley's confirmed they had actually broken up in January of 2020, and have since been co-parenting their two sons, Ayce, 12 and Jett, 14.
'It has been a tough and challenging year for every family and for ours included,' the statement read.
The glamorous mother of three(pictured above) is best known for her thriving cosmetic business, Face by Alex Pike
'It is with the utmost of love and respect for each other and a true commitment to our sons, that we 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.'
After the Magpies crashed out of the AFL finals in Queensland last year, Buckley moved out of the family home when he returned to Melbourne.
He is reportedly now staying at an apartment in South Yarra, which is owned by his friend Paul Roberts, a high-flying sports executive.
The man affectionately known as 'Bucks' played 20 games for the Brisbane Bears before joining Collingwood in 1994.
He played 260 matches for the Magpies and booted 263 goals, becoming one of the club's most decorated players.
By 1999, he was captain of the team - a position he held until he retired in 2007. In 2002, won the Norm Smith Medal and the Brownlow Medal a year later.
A premiership flag in his playing days proved to be elusive for the man widely regarded as one of the game's greatest ever midfielders.
Buckley then took over the head senior coaching role at the Magpies in 2012 following the controversial departure of Mick Malthouse.
Alex Pike (pictured above) is rumoured to be the glamour Buckley began following on his private Instagram account recently