Gary Lyon ex wife is Melissa Lyon, the former wife of Australian football great Garry Lyon. Although his name is sometimes searched as “Gary”, the correct spelling is Garry Lyon. Melissa and Garry were together for many years, share three sons, Benjamin, Joshua and Thomas, and separated in 2014.
Melissa lived alongside Garry during an important period of his AFL career and his move into sports media. However, she has kept a much lower profile than her former husband. Public interest in their family increased after the separation and Garry’s later relationship with Nicky Brownless.
Who is Gary Lyon ex wife?
Melissa Lyon is best known as the former wife of Melbourne Football Club legend Garry Lyon. She was part of his life while he established himself as a leading AFL player and later became a familiar television and radio personality.
Unlike Garry, Melissa has generally stayed away from regular media attention. Reliable details about her career, background and current personal life are limited, as she has maintained her privacy since their marriage ended.
Garry and Melissa Lyon’s marriage
Garry and Melissa spent many years together and raised their three sons while Garry built his football career. During this period, he became one of Melbourne’s biggest names and eventually captained the club.
Their marriage later came to an end, with Garry stating that they separated in 2014. The separation initially concerned their private family life, but it later attracted considerable attention because of developments involving Garry and the Brownless family.
Their three sons
Garry and Melissa Lyon have three sons together, Benjamin, Joshua and Thomas. Garry has spoken publicly about his close relationship with his children, particularly when discussing the difficult period surrounding his separation.
Their sons have generally remained outside the Australian celebrity and football spotlight. Although their father continues to have a prominent media career, relatively little is publicly known about the sons’ personal lives.
Garry Lyon and Nicky Brownless
Garry later entered a relationship with Nicky Brownless. She was previously married to former Geelong footballer Billy Brownless, who had been a close friend and media colleague of Garry.
The relationship became public in 2016 and attracted widespread coverage in Australia. Different claims were made about its early timeline, while Garry later acknowledged the hurt experienced by people around him during this difficult period.
What happened with Billy Brownless?
Billy Brownless and Garry Lyon had enjoyed a well-known friendship before their personal lives became connected. They had also worked together in football media, making the situation particularly prominent among Australian AFL audiences.
Their friendship was badly affected, but relations improved with time. In 2024, Billy appeared on SEN alongside Garry and Tim Watson. It was the first time Garry and Billy had worked together on air since their highly publicised fallout.
Where is Melissa Lyon now?
Melissa has kept a relatively private life since separating from Garry. She does not maintain the same mainstream media presence as her former husband, and reliable information about her current relationship status or professional life is limited.
For this reason, claims about Melissa’s present circumstances should not be treated as fact without reliable confirmation. Her former marriage to Garry and their three sons remain the main established details about her public story.
Who is Garry Lyon?
Garry Lyon is a former Australian rules footballer who spent his entire senior VFL/AFL career with Melbourne. He played 226 matches for the Demons between 1986 and 1999 and kicked an impressive 426 goals.
He captained Melbourne from 1991 to 1997 and earned five All-Australian selections during his career. Lyon also won Melbourne’s best and fairest award twice and was later selected in the club’s Team of the Century.
His AFL achievements
Lyon was particularly dangerous around goal during the mid-1990s. He kicked 79 goals in 1994 and followed that performance with 77 goals during the 1995 season.
His ability was not limited to playing as a forward. Lyon was recognised for his versatility across different positions and also represented Victoria in State of Origin football, including serving as captain.
Career after football
After retiring, Garry remained closely connected to the AFL through sports broadcasting. He became a prominent commentator and presenter across Australian television and radio, building a second successful career away from the playing field.
His contribution to the sport was formally recognised in 2025 when he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. The honour added to his existing recognition as a Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame member.
Garry Lyon’s family today
Garry’s personal life has changed considerably since his marriage to Melissa ended. His three sons are now adults, while his long-term relationship with Nicky Brownless has continued.
The intense public attention that once surrounded the two families has also eased over time. Garry and Billy Brownless eventually returned to working together publicly, showing how their relationship had developed years after the original controversy.
Conclusion
Gary Lyon ex wife is Melissa Lyon, who shared many years of marriage with former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon. They have three sons, Benjamin, Joshua and Thomas, and separated in 2014. Melissa has since maintained a private lifestyle and has largely stayed away from Australian media attention.
Garry, meanwhile, remains closely associated with Australian football. From his 226 games and 426 goals for Melbourne to his successful broadcasting career and 2025 Australian Football Hall of Fame induction, he continues to be a recognisable figure in the AFL world.
