The dazzle of the annual Brownlow Medal red carpet has begun and one striking fact has already emerged: the AFL stars and their glamorous partners have preserved the night’s reputation for fashion extravagance.
The Brownlow goes to the league’s “best and fairest” player for the season and the sporting code’s stars and their better halves have also put on their best and fairest suits and dresses.
Channel 7 TV star Abbey Holmes set the tone for the night in a stunning gown.
The ceremony, which kicks off the AFL’s grand final week, is being held at Melbourne’s up-market Crown Casino.
This year, the betting markets put Carlton star Patrick Cripps in the lead to nab the prestigious honour, followed by Collingwood’s Nick Daicos and the Brisbane Lions’ Lachie Neal.
Neale won the medal in 2023 and 2020 and Cripps won it in 2022.
To win the Brownlow, a player needs to secure the most points throughout the season.
The umpires of each game allocate points to who they thought was the best and fairest player.
Three votes go to the best player of the game, two to the second best and one to the third best.
Players suspended for on-field offences are ineligible to win, even if they receive the most votes.
The votes are kept secret until Brownlow night, when they are read out round by round.
The player with the highest total votes at the end of the count wins the medal.
The grand final weekends will be held on Saturday at the MCG with the much-anticipated showdown between the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans.
Pop star Katy Perry will lead the entertainment for the sporting extravaganza.
