AFL legend Billy Brownless says he was 'homeless' after his wife ran off with his best mate Gary Lyon and she kept the house.

The Geelong great split with his wife Nicky about four years ago in a breakup that shocked Australia and was the beginning of the end for the Footy Show.

Brownless said being dumped by his wife of 18 years took him by surprise and knocked him about emotionally, but also had financial ramifications.

AFL legend Billy Brownless says he was 'homeless' after his wife Nicky (pictured the year before in 2013) left him and kept the house

'[It was] a shocking two or three years. No good,' he explains to former Collingwood star Dale Thomas on I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here! on Monday night.

'I didn't have a home... and I couldn't buy one, I didn't have the money to buy one. So you're actually like a homeless person. If you wanted to have the kids, you'd get them to a motel.'

The pain Brownless, 52, felt after the split was compounded when Nicky got together with his former teammate Lyon just months later.

'Why me, poor Billy, all that stuff,' Brownless said of the emotions he felt during the very public saga.

'I'd walk into a restaurant, and I'd swear everyone was looking at me. They weren't. [But it was] paranoia — 'That's him, his missus left him.' That was tough.'

Brownless (right) explains his post-split financial troubles to former Collingwood star Dale Thomas (left) on I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here! on Monday night

In February 2016 news broke that Lyon (second right), who had separated from wife Melissa (right) in 2014, had been having an affair with Nicky (second left with Billy in 2012)

Brownless last week told another fellow contestant, entertainer Rhonda Burchmore, Nicky simply 'fell out of love' with him.

'About a year later she shacked up with one of my mates,' he said.

Brownless told Burchmore he 'doesn't think' anything went on behind his back while they were married.

Thomas said he too was a mess after a breakup that forced him to hide his feelings from his teammates.

'There were times when I'd rock up to training, and sit in the car, and be in tears… then be the court jester to try and hide (his emotions),' he said.

'I was liked for that, but I knew I was being a fraud.'

The pair also discussed how as players they had to give boring interview answers because being 'fun and showing a bit of personality' was frowned upon.

Brownless said AFL clubs would put them through the ringer if they played poorly at the next game.

Thomas said he too was a mess after a breakup that forced him to hide his feelings from his teammates

This was the same reason footballers were often photographed with a hand behind their back - they were hiding a glass of beer.

Brownless earlier said he'd one day like to catch up with Lyon now that some time has helped to heal his pain over the separation.

'We're not best mates, there was no Christmas cards or anything,' he said.

'One day, we'll I suppose sit down and have a beer. One day. Time heals.'

The end of their relationship played out in front of the cameras, and shocked the nation.

'It was public, very public. Front pages and all that,' he said.

He continued: 'I didn't expect it. You think she'll come back and all that, but she didn't. So that was a good kick in the guts.'

The 52-year-old former Geelong forward discussed his failed marriage during a chat with entertainer Rhonda Burchmore (pictured together) in the I'm A Celebrity jungle

Brownless said the public interest didn't surprise him due to the unique situation.

'We're all in the media and we're mates so it was always gonna blow up,' he said.

Brownless said he was slowly getting over the breakdown of his marriage - but admitted he was out of sorts for two years after finding out about his wife's new relationship.

'But it's been four years now so you get through it, you know?

'I reckon it takes you two years when you split, when you bounce back and to be yourself,' he said.

Lyon and Brownless had been friends for 15 years and worked together on the popular AFL Footy Show between 2009 and 2015.

In February 2016 news broke that Lyon, who had separated from wife Melissa in 2014, had been having an affair with Nicky.

In March that year, father-of-four Brownless opened up about the toll the affair had on his family, saying 'a good mate wouldn't do that'.

Billy Brownless (centre) with his daughters Lucy Brownless (right) and Ruby Brownless at the Emirates Marquee in the Birdcage during Stakes Day at Flemington Racecourse in 2017

He said he believed the secret relationship could have been going on for up to four years.

'I couldn't believe it. I found out three or four months ago. I asked Garry and Nicky earlier on what is going on and they said they were just good friends. That's what hurts the most,' Brownless told the Footy Show.

'By law it's legal. Morally it's wrong. We all know our rights and wrong. You don't touch a man's wallet, you don't touch his wife.'

In a radio interview in January 2017, father-of-three Lyon said he had texted Brownless to say sorry but did not get a reply.

He said: 'I know I've caused a lot of pain for the people I've been close to, in particular my ex-wife Melissa.

'If people think I haven't recognised that, they would be wrong.'

Set against the backdrop of the South African jungle, Brownless is competing against Geordie Shore's Charlotte Crosby, Married at First Sight alumni Ryan Gallagher and several other contestants to be crowned king of the jungle.