Jesinta Campbell talks wedding plans and her relationship with Buddy Franklin.

“I’m fiercely protective of him.”

To say it’s been an eventful year for Jesinta Campbell and her AFL star fiancé, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, would be an understatement.

Buddy’s battle with depression and his struggles with epilepsy were simultaneously pushed under the spotlight in September, publicly revealing what has been a tumultuous year for the pair.

Watch Jesinta discuss her engagement below (post continues after video).

If anything, though, such trials have only made the couple stronger. Sitting down with Daily Telegraph this week, Jesinta has opened up about her relationship with one of footy’s most notorious personalities, discussing tabloid rumours that there’s a lavish December wedding in the works.

And, well, according to the 24-year-old they’re just that, tabloid rumours.

“We’ve never set a date and there’s been no invites sent out, none of that.

“All the media are saying that it’s December, but we’d never planned to get married this year. We just wanted to enjoy our engagement and enjoy life, too.”

As for gossip that the two will be hosting the largest wedding of the decade, Jesinta has something slightly different in mind.

“It’s not going to be an A-list event; it’s not going to be this massive white wedding. It’s going to be incredibly intimate and about celebrating our love, our happiness and our families. And that’s what it should be all about.”

For the moment, being happy together and enjoying their relationship is enough, Jesinta says. Helping her fiancé navigate his private obstacles is what’s important right now, something which has given her strength.

“People don’t realise what Bud has been going through; he’s been going through it for a long time.

“So, for a long time, I’ve had to have this inner strength to draw upon, which people have only seen in the past 12 months. I’ve had to use that to get me through from day to day.”

“I’m fiercely protective of him and anyone that’s close to me. Of course, I hold him accountable when he does things wrong, just like anyone else, but I also love, protect and care for him.”

As for herself, 2015 has seen the model and TV presenter excel professionally. Regular spots on Nine Network’s Today show, as well as her responsibilites as a David Jones ambassador have kept her busy.

“It’s not just a pretty picture, or about walking a red carpet. I really do feel I have something to share and a story to tell, and that’s what I’ve always tried to do.”

Jesinta has emerged as a leading voice in anti-racism campaigns, speaking out about the prejudice that stifles indigenous athletes. But fighting racism, and standing behind Buddy and the likes of Adam Goodes has at times revealed the uglier sides of society.

“My first ever photo that I posted on Instagram of him [Buddy] and me I actually took down, because I started getting these racial comments aimed at him,” she says.

“I’d prefer not to repeat them, but they were absolutely disgusting, totally racist, with animal references in there.”

“I took it down because I know a lot of kids follow me on social media and I know a lot of his [Indigenous] family follow me, too. I just couldn’t stand them seeing that,” she says.

“It got to a point where I couldn’t delete, block or mute any more. It was out of control.”

Cyber trolls will not be enough to keep the pair down, though. While we might be waiting a while for a wedding, Jesinta says that for now, both her and Buddy are happy, and that’s all they need.

“We just want to wait for the time in our lives when we both feel settled with where we are and are ready to take that step, because a wedding is obviously a big moment in your life. And right now, Bud being happy and me being happy is enough.”

Have you found inner strength in helping a partner battle depression?