WAG Alex Pike, 44, celebrates boyfriend Nathan Buckley's birthday

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and his girlfriend Alex Pike have faced scrutiny in recent weeks over their social media posts about Covid-19 lockdowns.

But the couple appear to have put the controversy behind them, as they celebrated Nathan’s 49th birthday on Monday. 

Cosmetic nurse Alex, 44, shared a photo to Instagram of herself cuddling up to Nathan, and wrote: ‘Wishing this wonderful human a very happy birthday.’ 

It’s love! Footy WAG Alex Pike, 44, celebrated her boyfriend Nathan Buckley’s 49th birthday with a romantic tribute on Instagram on Monday 

It comes after Nathan – who recently stepped down as Magpies coach – questioned the contagiousness of the Delta strain of Covid on Twitter earlier this month. 

Victoria had just been plunged into its fifth lockdown in 16 months after the latest outbreak in New South Wales crossed the border. 

He tweeted: ‘53,283 tests yesterday in Victoria, presumably most of those from people exposed to people and places with confirmed positives… 16 new positives.

‘So, exactly how contagious is this thing again? My logical brain is failing to comprehend.’

Backlash: It comes after Nathan – who recently stepped down as Magpies coach – questioned the contagiousness of the Delta strain of Covid on Twitter earlier this month

Alex reposted her boyfriend’s tweet to her Instagram Stories, adding the comment ‘end lockdown’ underneath.

Nathan was soon hit with backlash from angry Twitter users and health experts.

The champion midfielder took the outrage on notice and backtracked on his comments, admitting he supported the lockdown.

Support: Alex reposted her boyfriend’s tweet to her Instagram Stories, adding the comment ‘end lockdown’ underneath

‘Totally agree on these short, sharp, hard lockdowns,’ he wrote.

‘They seem to be quite effective. I wonder what the long-term solution is though.’

He also had a parting message to his critics.  

U-turn: Nathan (pictured with his sons at his last Collingwood game as coach) later ended the heated debate by urging everyone to be kind to one another

‘A raft of assumptions and inferences being returned from one observation… that is your prerogative,’ Nathan later tweeted.

‘With some great, informed, logical perspectives in there as well. Clearly a highly discussed topic with lots of associated emotional triggering.’

‘Be kind to each other.’

Love is love: Nathan is dating cosmetic nurse Alex following his split from wife Tania in 2020