Richmond Tigers AFL star Jayden Short has announced he and his wife, Maddy Bekiaris, are expecting their first child together. The couple shared their joyful news with fans on social media this weekend.
A Heartfelt Social Media Reveal
The 29-year-old footballer took to social media on Saturday to post two touching black-and-white photobooth pictures. The precious snapshots showed the beaming couple posing with their ultrasound scan. In one image, Jayden proudly held up the sonogram as they both smiled brightly for the camera. Another tender photo captured the athlete gently kissing his wife's growing baby bump.
The loved-up pair, who married in January after being engaged for a year, looked absolutely radiant in the heartfelt photographs. They captioned their post simply with 'Baby Short' followed by a love heart emoji, signalling the next exciting chapter in their relationship.
Celebrity Well-Wishes and Relationship Timeline
Their famous friends were quick to flood the comments section with congratulations. Collingwood star Oleg Markov wrote 'Mum and Dad', while Channel Nine's Lana Murphy exclaimed 'How goooood!!! Congrats!!!' Veteran sports presenter Abbey Gelmi responded with emotional crying and love heart emojis.
This happy news comes after the couple's romantic engagement in September 2023. Jayden proposed to his childhood sweetheart during a trip to Cinque Terre in Italy, announcing their engagement on Instagram with a beach photo showing off Maddy's stunning six-diamond wraparound ring. They captioned that post 'CIAO FIANCEE!!' and married just one year later.
Jayden and Maddy's relationship spans more than a decade, having known each other since 2012. That was the same year Jayden entered the AFL rookie draft, making his senior debut the following year. The veteran midfielder has been with the Richmond Tigers since 2015 and has played nearly 200 games for the club.
Looking Ahead
This pregnancy marks a significant new beginning for the couple, who have been together through much of Jayden's successful AFL career. Their journey from teenage friends to married couple and now expectant parents has captured the hearts of fans and fellow athletes alike. As they prepare for parenthood, the sports world watches with excitement for this next phase in the Short family's life.
