Meet footy's new power couple: Two stars from the same AFL club make their romance Instagram official - and there's a twist

Footy's new power couple has been revealed after Richmond stars Monique Conti and Rhyan Mansell went public with their romance.

Conti - who previously dated one-time Tigers young gun Sydney Stack - posted the news on Monday via an Instagram story.

The midfielder is one of the AFLW's most recognisable players, having won a premiership with the Western Bulldogs in 2018 as she was voted best on ground in the grand final.

Following her move to Punt Road in 2020, Conti, 25, was crowned AFL Women's best and fairest player in 2023.

She is also an accomplished basketballer, having played in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) dating back to 2016.

Conti has been on the books of Geelong United since 2024 - and previously said juggling both sports provides her with life balance.

'I don't think I ever sit still. I would go crazy if I did,' she said.

'I like to be go, go, go all the time. I think that's what makes me. I wouldn't be the same if I was sitting still.

'So yeah, I go from one to the other to keep me going and that's the way I like it.'

Conti and Stack got matching tattoos when they were together, and their relationship was the first public romance between an AFL player and AFLW player. 

Mansell, 25, is a promising small forward who grew up in Tasmania and was previously engaged.

Earlier this season Mansell - who joined Richmond in 2021 - was suspended for three matches for pushing St Kilda's Liam O'Connell into a marking contest.

The ban was a talking point with footy fans - and Tigers coach Adam Yze felt Mansall was hard done by.

'The hardest thing is he would probably do it again if we were training,' a bemused Yze said in April.

'It's a brutal game and a tough game. I'll say this...when it comes to protecting players, I think we are getting better at it. 

'But in Rhyan's situation, he had no idea what he was pushing him (O'Connell) into.'