Football legend Nathan Buckley reveals girlfriend Brodie Ryan's secret health battle: 'She's had a few seizures'

Nathan Buckley has revealed that his girlfriend Brodie Ryan is suffering from epilepsy. 

The AFL star is hoping to bring light to the neurological disorder and is taking part in the charity event Walk for Epilepsy. 

'It's Brodes' story to tell but she's had a few seizures over the last four or five years and she's still in the process of working out exactly what that is for her,' the 52-year-old told the Herald Sun on Tuesday. 

'She's had one or two (seizures) over the last two and a half years in our relationship and we're in the process of working out what's going on and getting to the bottom of it,' he continued.

'As you can imagine it's pretty scary going from operating to effectively glitching so she's in the process of working out what is causing it and how it's coming about.'

Nathan said that by publicly discussing the topic, he hopes to lift the stigma around the illness and help Brodie, 35, 'understand it a bit better.'    

Epilepsy is characterised by bursts of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain which ­prevent nerve cells there from ­signalling to each other properly — triggering seizures where ­everything from muscle control to senses such as taste and smell go completely haywire for a few minutes.

The main treatment is anti-epileptic drugs to reduce seizure risk, by altering the electrical activity in the brain cells so they become less 'excitable' and less likely to misfire. 

More severe cases may need surgery to remove a small part of the brain that's causing the attacks.

Other approaches include implanting a small electrical device inside the body and wiring it up to the brain to interrupt the chaotic signals between nerve cells, or following a ketogenic diet — low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat — which is thought to reduce the 'excitability' of nerve cells and can halve the number of episodes.

The high-profile couple are often seen navigating the Melbourne scene.

Brodie previously revealed she and Nathan connected over their similar upbringings, after they began dating in 2022.

Despite their 17-year age gap, the Melbourne businesswoman said they have so much in common and that they push each other every day to be their best selves.

'Helping others be the best version of themselves and prioritising their mental health and wellbeing and giving back to others is a passion both Nath and I have always shared. These topics were a big attraction to each in the beginning,' she said.

'We had very similar upbringings and share a lot of the same values due to this,' she continued.

'I have always been enthusiastic about helping others where I can, and to have a partner that exercises this same passion every day with his family, friends, and the wider community inspires me.'

Brodie said Nathan's public profile has given him the opportunity to help others through hardships and to give back, and that she is 'inspired' by the work he does.

Smitten by her love, she gushed: 'He is a beautiful person.'

The former Collingwood player is also clearly besotted with Brodie, as he often expresses his love for her on social media.