Latest news with #ALifeofGreatness
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL great Jimmy Bartel opens up on ‘incredibly violent' father and dark family past
Geelong champion and Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel has revisited his dark childhood and time spent with an abusive, alcoholic father. Bartel, an Australian Football Hall of Famer, has previously spoken about his violent father, but he has now shared more details about the relationship, and documented one 'scary' night in particular. Bartel was only a baby when his parents split up but his father still featured in his life. 'I didn't understand the reason for the separation early doors or the volatility in that relationship,'' Bartel said on the A Life of Greatness podcast. 'Even though my parents divorced, my mum never said a negative word about my father, who was violent. 'He battled alcoholism and gambling addictions and was incredibly violent towards my mum and others in my family (Bartel has two sisters). 'I was shielded a bit being younger but as you got older your eyes start to open (and) you go, 'That's not right'. 'It became a real tough thing for me to deal with. 'I'm pretty guarded and reserved, and I remember coming home, I went straight to my bedroom and then mum comes in and goes, 'What's wrong?' I just don't think he's the person I think he is ... I didn't have a great time up there with him and had a pretty average night, one night with him, which is pretty scary for myself. 'We had been heavily drinking and things like that, he got pretty physical with myself, sort of stuff (behaviour) that you'd put away and seen earlier, that sort of all came to the surface.' Bartel said his father would still came around to his family home, even though his mother had an AVO on him. 'He came around and told her to lift the AVO or else he was going to take mum. And he did. He took my mum out of the house and took her,' he said. 'I remember looking out the loungeroom window and he was taking my mum and I only found out until I was older, he was taking mum out to the back of Geelong and pretty much gave her the ultimatum, either remove the AVO or this is the end for you. 'And so it was a tough decision for my mum, do you leave three kids with no mum or you come back home and you remove the AVO and you try and manage things a different way. 'So it was, it wasn't until I was older, you know, in your teenage years where you start to work out, hang on, this is not the hero that you want as a dad.' Bartel also touched on his life with former wife (model and influencer) Nadia Bartel. 'I've never commented on anything to do about my separation,' he said. 'I never will because I just don't think it's needed. And so I just go about my business. I don't see what's so fascinating about myself. 'Like there's nothing that I can do and say. And other people's opinion on me is none of my business. And so they'll form their own narrative, their own thinking, or their own thought. 'The only thing that matters to me is the people that I care about and I just foster those relationships and it can be tough at times (because) you do want to bite back and you do want to respond or you want to go, 'Well, I'll say my bit,' but people don't care. 'Deep down they don't. The people who care are the people that actually care about you. And so that's all I'm worried and focused about.' Bartel also spoke about his former teammate Joel Selwood, who this year lost his older twin brothers. 'I don't think we can ever comprehend it,'' Bartel said. 'Joel, who's obviously the famous Joel Selwood, there's a grandstand (named after him), he and I lived together for quite some time,' Bartel said. 'Then of course, his parents, my mum and his parents became quite close. I played over 13 years with Joel and shared so much with him. And I think the most difficult thing is, like, what do you say? And I know that's the minor end of the problem, but you just want to make it all better for them. 'Then you think everyone's trying to make it all better for them, but trying to let them know whatever you need, we're there. And the resilience of that family is extraordinary. I still can't get my head around it. 'I think it gets put into laser focus with when you have your own kids (and) losing one child ... every time you think about it, you think about Joel, you think about Scott, the youngest brother, and then Bryce and Maree, it's like, can you give me some of your hurt? And I think everyone thinks that, can you move some of that load on to us? Because no one deserves that.'
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
AFL star breaks silence on split from Nadia Bartel
Three-time AFL premiership player Jimmy Bartel has broken his silence on the very public marriage breakdown between he and ex-wife Nadia Bartel in 2019. While the Brownlow medallist has taken up media jobs since his playing career ended in 2016, Bartel admits he's been largely 'guarded and reserved' about his private life, and even more so about his short-lived marriage. 'I've never commented on anything to do about my separation. I never will because I just don't think it's needed. And so just go about my business,' he told the A Life of Greatness podcast with Sarah Grynberg. Addressing the public fallout from his high-profile split, the former Geelong star said he simply can't fathom 'what's so fascinating about myself'. 'Like there's nothing that I can do and say. And other people's opinion on me is none of my business. And so they'll form their own narrative, their own thinking or their own thought,' the 41-year-old said. 'The only thing that matters to me is the people that I care about and I just foster those relationships, and it can be tough at times.' Jimmy and Nadia Bartel pose for a photo on Caulfield Cup Day at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. Credit: JULIAN SMITH / METHODE The 305-gamer shares two sons, Aston and Henley, with ex-wife Nadia Bartel, and two-year-old daughter Paloma with girlfriend Amelia Shepperd. Shortly after the couple's separation following five years of marriage, Nadia, 40, said that it had been 'a very difficult month for my boys'. 'My single focus now is to continue to protect, care for, and provide for my two beautiful boys as this is a personal matter. I am so thankful for my very supportive family and friends,' she said. Speaking more recently on the challenging period to friends Bec Judd and Jess Roberts on the Vain-ish podcast, Nadia revealed, 'I was in a bad place'. 'When you're going through something, you're willing to do anything,' she added, reflecting on her decision to take up intense breathwork therapy. The former footy star said he's been reluctant to open up on the matter because he feels there's little to gain from his personal life being put under the microscope. Jimmy Bartel and his sons Henley and Aston. Credit: Jiimmy Bartel/IG / IG Thrust into the spotlight of professional sport at just 17, Bartel suggested he has always been calculated around navigating the highs and lows of his public life. 'You do want to bite back and you do want to respond or you want to go, well, 'I'll say my bit', but people don't care, deep down they don't. The only one people who care are the people that actually care about you. And so that's all I worried and focused about,' he said.
West Australian
7 days ago
- West Australian
Jimmy Bartel: Former AFL star reveals violent father's impact on childhood and connection to Selwood family
Former AFL star-turned-media personality Jimmy Bartel has lifted the lid on his troubled childhood at the hands of his 'violent' father, and revealed why he believes the game's first openly gay men's player is yet to come forward. In a candid interview with Sarah Grynberg on the A Life of Greatness podcast , Bartel revealed that behind the three-time premiership player and Brownlow medallist was a man who had endured his fair share of personal challenges. Largely raised in Geelong, the ex-Cat's parents separated when he was just one-year-old, recalling a pivotal moment in his relationship with his father after spending school holidays with him aged 14. 'I'm pretty guarded and reserved, and I remember coming home, I went straight to my bedroom and then Mum comes in and goes, 'What's wrong?'' Bartel recalled, responding, 'I just don't think he's the person I think he is'. 'I didn't have a great time up there with him and had a pretty average night, one night with him, which (was) pretty scary for myself. He had been heavily drinking and things like that, he got pretty physical with myself, sort of stuff that you'd put away and seen earlier, that sort of all came to the surface.' Bartel shares sons Henley and Aston with ex-wife Nadia Bartel, and young daughter Paloma with girlfriend Amelia Shepperd. He added it was difficult to see his father, who had battled alcoholism, turn on his charm and charisma around friends but cut a totally different figure in the presence of loved ones. At one particularly low point, the former player revealed his father threatened to end his mother's life if she didn't allow him more time with Bartel and his two sisters. Despite his parents' separation, Bartel said his father would 'come around home and my mum had placed an AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) on him, he came around and told her to lift the AVO or else he was going to take mum'. 'I remember looking out the lounge room window and he was taking my mum and I only found out until I was older, he was taking mum out to the back of Geelong and pretty much gave her the ultimatum, either remove the AVO or this is the end for you. 'And so it was a tough decision for my mum, do you leave three kids with no mum or you come back home and you remove the AVO and you try and manage things a different way?' Sharing much of his playing career with fellow club legend Joel Selwood, the 41-year-old said it was difficult to watch his close friend suffer the tragedy of two premature family deaths in brothers Troy and Adam earlier this year. And with more than just his personal connection to the Selwoods, Bartel said his mother had also drawn close to Bryce and Marie Selwood after sharing the locker room with their son for more than 13 years. 'I think the most difficult thing is, like, what do you say? And I know that's the minor end of the problem, but you just want to make it all better for them,' Bartel said. 'But then you want them to know that you're still always there, even after the phone call, the message, or seeing them in person. And the resilience of that family is extraordinary. I still can't get my head around it. 'I think it gets put into laser focus, you know, with when you have your own kids losing one child.' Having met all types of AFL players in his time, Bartel shared what he believed might be holding back the game's first ever openly gay male player from coming out. Describing modern AFL locker rooms as 'open-minded', Bartel suggested clubs are better placed than ever to support such a player. And it's just as likely an accomplished star feels forced to mask their sexuality as someone on the fringe. 'One of the factors I think might be holding back a player, a male player of coming out is that'll be all they'll be referenced as for the rest of their life… he might be a four-time Brownlow medal winner, five time Premiership player, won every award in the game, 300 games, a legend. But if they were the first player, that would be how they'd describe them,' he said. 'And I think it diminishes what they've done incredibly well in the game. Not that it should, but I reckon there'd be some who might be thinking, you know, do I want that always attached to me? And again, that's only an opinion of someone who's never walked a mile in that person's shoes.' Retiring in 2016 after 305 games, Bartel has since become heavily involved in AFL media across TV and radio as an analyst.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
AFL champ details abusive upbringing with ‘violent' father
Former AFL star-turned-media personality Jimmy Bartel has lifted the lid on his troubled childhood at the hands of his 'violent' father, and revealed why he believes the game's first openly gay men's player is yet to come forward. In a candid interview with Sarah Grynberg on the A Life of Greatness podcast, Bartel revealed that behind the three-time premiership player and Brownlow medallist was a man who had endured his fair share of personal challenges. Largely raised in Geelong, the ex-Cat's parents separated when he was just one-year-old, recalling a pivotal moment in his relationship with his father after spending school holidays with him aged 14. 'I'm pretty guarded and reserved, and I remember coming home, I went straight to my bedroom and then Mum comes in and goes, 'What's wrong?'' Bartel recalled, responding, 'I just don't think he's the person I think he is'. 'I didn't have a great time up there with him and had a pretty average night, one night with him, which (was) pretty scary for myself. He had been heavily drinking and things like that, he got pretty physical with myself, sort of stuff that you'd put away and seen earlier, that sort of all came to the surface.' Bartel shares sons Henley and Aston with ex-wife Nadia Bartel, and young daughter Paloma with girlfriend Amelia Shepperd. Jimmy Bartel and partner Amelia Shepperd. Credit: Jimmy Bartel / IG He added it was difficult to see his father, who had battled alcoholism, turn on his charm and charisma around friends but cut a totally different figure in the presence of loved ones. At one particularly low point, the former player revealed his father threatened to end his mother's life if she didn't allow him more time with Bartel and his two sisters. Jimmy Bartel and his sons Henley and Aston. Credit: Jiimmy Bartel/IG / IG Despite his parents' separation, Bartel said his father would 'come around home and my mum had placed an AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) on him, he came around and told her to lift the AVO or else he was going to take mum'. 'I remember looking out the lounge room window and he was taking my mum and I only found out until I was older, he was taking mum out to the back of Geelong and pretty much gave her the ultimatum, either remove the AVO or this is the end for you. 'And so it was a tough decision for my mum, do you leave three kids with no mum or you come back home and you remove the AVO and you try and manage things a different way?' Sharing much of his playing career with fellow club legend Joel Selwood, the 41-year-old said it was difficult to watch his close friend suffer the tragedy of two premature family deaths in brothers Troy and Adam earlier this year. And with more than just his personal connection to the Selwoods, Bartel said his mother had also drawn close to Bryce and Marie Selwood after sharing the locker room with their son for more than 13 years. Geelong v St Kilda in the Grand Final at the MCG; Joel Selwood, Joel Corey, Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel and Cameron Ling with the cup. Credit: Mal Fairclough / WA News 'I think the most difficult thing is, like, what do you say? And I know that's the minor end of the problem, but you just want to make it all better for them,' Bartel said. 'But then you want them to know that you're still always there, even after the phone call, the message, or seeing them in person. And the resilience of that family is extraordinary. I still can't get my head around it. 'I think it gets put into laser focus, you know, with when you have your own kids losing one child.' Joel Selwood, Adam Selwood and Scott Selwood embrace during Troy Selwood's Funeral Service at GMHBA Stadium on February 14, 2025 in Geelong. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images Having met all types of AFL players in his time, Bartel shared what he believed might be holding back the game's first ever openly gay male player from coming out. Describing modern AFL locker rooms as 'open-minded', Bartel suggested clubs are better placed than ever to support such a player. And it's just as likely an accomplished star feels forced to mask their sexuality as someone on the fringe. 'One of the factors I think might be holding back a player, a male player of coming out is that'll be all they'll be referenced as for the rest of their life… he might be a four-time Brownlow medal winner, five time Premiership player, won every award in the game, 300 games, a legend. But if they were the first player, that would be how they'd describe them,' he said. 'And I think it diminishes what they've done incredibly well in the game. Not that it should, but I reckon there'd be some who might be thinking, you know, do I want that always attached to me? And again, that's only an opinion of someone who's never walked a mile in that person's shoes.' Retiring in 2016 after 305 games, Bartel has since become heavily involved in AFL media across TV and radio as an analyst.
7NEWS
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
MasterChef judge Andy Allen reveals he did Zonfrillo's press after a 4.30am call from Jock's wife
MasterChef judge Andy Allen has revealed the heartbreaking call he received from Lauren Zonfrillo, telling him his best friend had tragically died. At 4.30am on April 30, 2023, Lauren, Jock's wife, delivered the heartwrenching news to Allen and also to inform him that fellow judge Jock had press commitments scheduled for that morning. She wanted to keep his death from the MasterChef team and didn't want 10 to know he had passed yet. As a result, Allen went in Jock's place, knowing that Jock was dead, and carrying on with press for the season launch as if he had no idea. 'I get a call at about 4.30 in the morning from Lauren in hysterics and telling me what had happened, that Jock had passed away. And I was then like…what do you need? And she was like, 'Well…he's got a lot of press to do this morning.' And I had a bit of press to do as well. I was like, okay, I'll go do his press because she didn't want to go to Ten…she needed to get a plan together,' he told A Life of Greatness with Sarah Grynberg. Allen said navigating grief publicly and privately was the 'hardest thing I've ever been through' for many reasons. 'For him to pass away was shocking, (firstly) it was my birthday, (secondly) I was with him the day before, I was the last person to see him, we had lunch and (thirdly) for it to play out in the public eye was crazy, the first 24 hours I never want to relive.' Allen and Jock were inseparable as soon as they entered the MasterChef kitchen as the new judges, alongside Melissa Leong, taking over from George, Gary and Matt Preston. 'He was like the older brother I never had,' he said. 'I learnt so much from him, cooking, food and saw him with his family and his young kids and Loz and thought 'Wow, he's really great at being present with them.' Allen, who won MasterChef in 2012 at the age of 23, said his grieving process was 'such a journey for the first six months' and found himself being there for others. 'I needed to work on myself more. I went to talk therapy and became very aware that grief is okay,' he told Grynberg. 'I miss Jock every day but I've learnt there's so much more to celebrate, there's days I have really bad days, life is short and they (the Zonfrillos) had a life and they were so amazing at that life and I want to celebrate that.' The 46-year-old Scottish chef was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room in April 2023. His cause of death has never been revealed. In an exclusive interview with 7NEWS Spotlight that aired in May, Lauren spoke about discovering Jock's journal and reading his final words. 'Jock had journalled for a period of time,' she told Seven's Liz Hayes. 'It meant a lot to me reading . . . (about) such a normal conversation, but I got his version. 'It was kind of this encouragement to say, you've got this, Lauren, there's been many times where I've (felt like) I haven't got this.' Lauren — who was in Italy at the time of Jock's death — reportedly asked police to conduct a welfare check after failing to contact him. The couple had relocated to Rome with their young children, Alfie and Isla, with Jock travelling back to Australia to film MasterChef. Lauren now lives in Sydney with the younger kids, and Allen said he is still in touch with family but needed to see them more. Before MasterChef changed Allen's life, he was an apprentice electrician in Newcastle. He didn't come from a background of chefs and only ever cooked for family and friends, inspired by Jamie Oliver and his recipes. Allen took the big leap from sparky to the cooking competition after a mate dared him to enter for $500. After his winning season, he took a full time chef role at a small cafe in Bronte where he enhanced his cook skills.
