NADIA’S PAIN: JIM’S LINK TO SECOND WOMAN
SHOCK TWIST TO BIG SPLIT
THE love life of former Cats champ Jimmy Bartel is seemingly becoming a lot more cluttered, with another woman reportedly on the scene.
Friends of Jimmy, 35, who split from his social media influencer wife Nadia, 33, last month, say he has been seeing a Melbourne TV figure.
Claims of the relationship come a week after news emerged of a rumoured link between the Brownlow medallist and UK-based Melbourne socialite Lauren Mand.
The high-profile AFL couple’s split has been acrimonious, with Nadia revealing this week that her husband of five years had left her “heartbroken”.
The Bartels have two sons, Aston, 3, and Henley, 10 months.
Their marriage unravelled after Jimmy returned from a trip to Wimbledon last month.
“It’s been a very difficult month for me and the boys,” Nadia said this week.
“Although I’m heartbroken, I don’t want to comment specifically on what’s been reported about Jim’s trip to the UK, as I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest.”
Reeling since the split, Nadia has been comforted by her family as she cares for her boys. Her fiercely supportive circle of friends have closed ranks around her.
While Nadia is said to be at pains not to have any dirty laundry aired for the sake of her young boys, many of her friends are speaking out.
Some friends have told News Corp Nadia is bracing for even more women to be associated with Jimmy.
Mand, who relocated to the UK earlier this year, regularly returns to Australia.
Friends say Nadia has received messages that Mand has long referred to Jimmy as her boyfriend and wanted news of their relationship to hit the headlines.
Mand, who attended exclusive Toorak private school Loreto Mandeville Hall, is well-known on the Melbourne scene.
Her social media pages show off leggy selfies at hotspots such as The Osborne and The Emerson, where Jimmy likes to hang out.
Mand was seen living it up with friends in the Tabcorp marquee on Oaks Day last year.
Nadia, a regular stablemate at the Spring Racing Carnival, did not attend last year after the birth of Henley in October.
Jimmy, who has had a long association with Tabcorp, missed a scheduled commitment with the betting giant on Thursday.
The three-time Geelong premiership player received a $50,000 donation from Tabcorp in 2016 after he grew a beard for the entire AFL season to raise awareness for Our Watch, a not-for-profit campaign to prevent violence against women and children.
Jimmy is still listed to play for the Victorian team against the All Stars in next week’s E.J. Whitten Legends Game.
When contacted yesterday, he said: “Please respect Nadia, the boys, and my privacy.”
Nadia will be centre stage on Wednesday as an “in conversation with” panellist for the exclusive Mercedes-Benz Melbourne luncheon on Women Driving Change.