AFL great Jimmy Bartel has welcomed his fourth child, and second with partner Amelia Shepperd. The couple announced the arrival of their daughter, Kaia Rae Bartel, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Bartel shared the news on social media, posting a black and white photo of himself cradling the baby girl, whose face was concealed. "Kaia Rae Bartel. 28.10.2026," he wrote. "Our beautiful little girl was in a rush to join our family. Aston, Henley and Paloma already adore their little sister. How lucky is she to have @milly_shepperd as her beautiful mum."
The announcement drew congratulations from friends, including TV host Jacqueline Felgate, footballer Joel Selwood, Carlton player Jake Edwards, television host Melissa Doyle, and actress Georgie Parker.
Kaia Rae is Bartel's second child with Shepperd. They also have a daughter, Paloma Lucie, who is three years old. Bartel has two sons from his previous marriage to fashion designer Nadia Bartel: Henley, seven, and Aston, 10.
Bartel had previously expressed some apprehension about having a daughter, telling The Herald Sun that he was "scared" about how to manage with a girl, given his two older sisters only have boys. "A few things are going through my head, well how do I do their hair. So, I am a bit scared to be honest," he said.
Jimmy and Amelia announced they were expecting a girl in October 2022, a few months after their first anniversary, at an intimate gender reveal party. His sons, Henley and Aston, participated in the reveal, popping a balloon that released pink confetti.