Inside Billy Brownless and former best mate Garry Lyon’s second Christmas family reunion

It’s been six years since Nicky Brownless left her AFL star husband Billy for his best mate Garry Lyon, sparking a feud between the former Footy Show co-hosts.

However, it appears the men have mended fences, having spent the past two Christmases together as a blended family.

The once-fractured family reunited for a festive lunch hosted by Nicky, 50, and Garry, 54, last month, with Billy, also 54, and his children, Oscar, Max, Lucy and Ruby, on the guest list.

Describing how the reunion came about, Nicky simply told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday: ‘I just said, everyone get on a plane.’ 

‘It was nice to be together,’ she added.    

Billy and Garry appeared friendly in social media photos taken at a festive lunch hosted by Nicky, at the Red Hill retreat she shares with Garry on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. 

Together: The family broke bread at Nicky and Garry’s Red Hill retreat on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Garry (second left) is pictured at the event with his children, Oscar, Max, Lucy and Ruby 

Family affair: Ruby’s partner Josh Wallis and Nicky’s mother Jan Smith likewise attended the shindig, at which lunch and drinks were served. Garry Lyon bringing wine to the table (right)

Ruby’s partner Josh Wallis and Nicky’s mother Jan Smith also attended the shindig, at which lunch and drinks were served. 

In 2016, Lyon left his wife and started a relationship with Brownless’ wife of 18 years, Nicky. 

Both men’s marriages had ended before Nicky and Lyon announced they were a couple, but Brownless still felt betrayed because they had assured him they were nothing more than ‘just good friends’. 

Last year: After five years of bad blood, Brownless and Lyon (pictured, second from left and third from right)  began steps toward reconciliation last year when Brownless said they were in a ‘good spot’, before spending Christmas Day together in 2020 (pictured) 

After five years of bad blood, Brownless and Lyon began steps toward reconciliation last year when Brownless said they were in a ‘good spot’, before spending Christmas Day together in 2020.

Brownless’ daughter Lucy described the lunch between the blended families as ‘really special’.

‘It worked really well and that was all very positive. We’re all happy and happy to be all together. It was a great day. We were all really excited about that,’ she told the Herald Sun at the time. 

Family: Brownless posed with his four children Ruby, Lucy, Max and Oscar in Geelong on Christmas Day (pictured, the four kids with their dad, centre) at Christmas lunch last year

‘We really enjoyed it and made the most of it. My grandma was with us, Oscar was in Queensland with Geelong for the footy and Ruby and Max and I got that time together which was really nice,’ Lucy said.  

Brownless addressed the issue with fellow AFL greats Sam Newman and Don Scott on an episode of the pair’s You Cannot Be Serious podcast in September.

‘You know I’m going to ask you this – people want to know how you and Garry Lyon are going on,’ Newman said at the tail end of the podcast.

Special: Brownless’ daughter Lucy described the lunch between the blended families as ‘really special’. Pictured clockwise around the table from bottom left, Max, Lucy, Nicky, Garry, Jan Smith, Ruby, Billy, Oscar, at the Christmas lunch last year 

‘At the time you go through all different emotions of course,’ Brownless responded. ”Why me?’ and a bit of hatred.

‘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.

‘That was the other big problem. Young Maxy was about 10, Oscar was about 14, the girls [Lucy and Ruby] were 16, 17.’  

Brownless conceded though he had not fully regained the friendship with Lyon they once had – saying the pair ‘might be’ able to be mates like before at some point.

Past: Billy Brownless and Nicky Brownless (left) are pictured with Garry Lyon and Melissa Lyon (right) in 2012. In 2016, Lyon left his wife and started a relationship with Brownless’ wife of 18 years, Nicky

‘There’s no Christmas cards yet but we have spoken a couple of times,’ he said.  

‘The kids live with Garry and Nicky and things like that.’

When probed on how long it had taken for him to move on from the split, Brownless said two years was too short, but five years may be more accurate. 

‘There’s no problems, we’re in a good space, he’s in a good space, Nicky is, the kids are and so am I. But that has taken time. It has,’ Brownless said.

History: Pictured are Garry Lyon and Nicky Brownless at a memorial for Danny Frawley in September 2019.  Mr Brownless said he was now in a ‘good spot’ with both his ex-wife and Lyon