Nathan Buckley's estranged wife Tania looks tense following his controversial covid tweet

Tania Buckley (née Minnici) appeared tense and downcast during an exercise session with a pal in Melbourne on Sunday.

The estranged wife of former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was pictured having an animated discussion with a female friend as they stepped out during the city’s fifth Covid lockdown.

Her outing took place on the same day her ex faced backlash for posting a bizarre tweet questioning the contagiousness of the Delta coronavirus strain. 

Feeling tense? Tania Buckley (née Minnici) appeared downcast during an exercise session with a pal in Melbourne on Sunday

Although she appeared stressed, Tania – who was married to Nathan for 18 years before they separated in 2020 – looked stylish in a pair of bright pink leggings and a white jumper.

She wore no makeup for the occasion, and swept her hair into a casual ponytail.

Her sighting comes after her ex claimed the highly infectious Delta strain wasn’t as contagious as it was made out to be in a controversial tweet shared on Sunday.

Victoria was plunged into its fifth lockdown in 16 months on Thursday after the latest outbreak in NSW crossed the border.

What’s going on? The estranged wife of former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was pictured having an animated discussion with a female friend as they stepped out during the city’s fifth Covid lockdown

The state recorded 16 new cases on Sunday, prompting Buckley to weigh into the Covid debate in his first Twitter post since leaving Collingwood in June.

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.’

His new girlfriend, Alex Pike, posted her boyfriend’s tweet to her Instagram Stories sharing the comment: ‘End lockdown.’

Style: Although she appeared stressed, Tania – who was married to Nathan for 18 years before they separated in 2020 – looked stylish in a pair of bright pink leggings and a white jumper

Shortly after his post, Buckley was hit with backlash from angry Twitter users and health experts.

‘Airborne spread. It spreads faster than a rumour in a locker room, Nathan, and does a similar amount of damage when you’re trying to keep the teamwork happening,’ emergency physician and former Australian Medical Association vice president Stephen Parnis commented. 

Buckley took the outrage on notice and backtracked on his comments when he admitted he supported the current lockdown.

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

Backlash: It comes after her estranged husband Nathan Buckley – who recently stepped down as Collingwood coach – claimed the highly infectious Delta strain of Covid wasn’t actually contagious in a tweet on Sunday

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

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

He also had a parting message to his critics.

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

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

Support: Nathan Buckleý’s new girlfriend Alex Pike leapt to the defence of her boyfriend by sharing his tweet on her own Instagram

‘Be kind to each other.’

Some fans did jump to Buckley’s defence.

‘To be fair, he’s only asking a question. If half the people on here could give an educated response rather than just hating we might get to a point where we’re not locking down every time we get a case,’ one user commented.

Buckley was recently ousted as Collingwood coach midway through his 10th AFL season at the helm, paying the price for a 3-9 start to the 2021 season that had cost the Magpies a shot at reaching the finals.

He announced his split from Tania last December, and made headlines in May when he was pictured for the first time with his new girlfriend. 

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