Purple reigned supreme on the Brownlow Medal red carpet, with the wives and girlfriends of the AFL stepping out at Melbourne's Crown Casino in a steady stream of gowns in the feminine hue.
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Brownlow contender Lachie Neale may no longer play for Fremantle, but wife Julie sported the team colour on Monday in an off-the-shoulder gown lilac gown created by designer Georgia Young.
It was one of seven dresses created by the Melbourne-based designer for the AFL's night of nights.
"I only did my second fitting yesterday, it's amazing how quickly Georgia pulled it together," Neale told AAP.
Also wearing gowns in various shades of purple were Sophie Harmer, partner of Demon Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn's wife Jessica Todd and Jess Tarrant, wife of Kangaroos star Robbie.
Thigh-high splits, figure-hugging silhouettes and sequins were also popular, while baby bumps were the most joyous accessory.
Greater Western Sydney's Callam Ward and wife Ruby - who will be watching the count in Sydney as the team prepares for the grand final - took to Instagram beforehand to announce they are expecting a baby in February.
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury's wife Alex, Adam Treloar's netballer girlfriend Kim Ravaillion and Ed Cunrow's wife Emily were also sporting baby bumps on the red carpet.
"Being pregnant definitely made it easier, you would think it would be the opposite but my first fitting was a week ago," Pendlebury, in a sequinned black Jane Hill number, told AAP.
Mardi Dangerfield, the wife of Brownlow favourite Patrick, and Jessie Murphy, wife of Carlton skipper Marc Murphy, turned heads with brand new haircuts.
"It was not planned at all," Murphy said of her decision to chop off her famous blond locks.
The Brownlow was also a welcome distraction for some of the players who lost finals games, including Geelong's Joel Selwood, whose team lost to Richmond in the preliminary final.
"There's nothing you can do or say to make them feel better, you've got to let them do their thing," fiancee Britt Davis, in a heavily embroidered Paolo Sebastian number, told AAP.
Perhaps the most unusual look of the evening was Essendon's Dyson Heppell in a pair of checked shorts and crutches. His girlfriend Kate Turner, however, was on-trend in a black latex gown.
Also in latex - and a full tulle skirt by Jason Grech - was Brooke Cotchin on her first date night with Richmond captain husband Trent since having baby Parker two months ago.
"It's always nice to get out, maybe not to the Brownlow, a dinner would have been nice," she joked.
Players also brought their mothers as dates, including Josh Dunkley, whose mum Lisa skipped the 1996 Brownlow Medal count with husband Andrew Dunkley because she was pregnant with Josh.
His Western Bulldogs teammate Caleb Daniel also brought his mother Karen while GWS star Toby Greene took mum Kate to the Sydney screening of the count.
Australian Associated Press
