It’s AFL’s night of nights.
But the Brownlow Medal is just as much about the fashion as it is about the prestigious award count, with the wives and girlfriends of the players stealing the spotlight on the red carpet.
On Sunday, the WAGs will enjoy their moment in the spotlight when they head Crown Casino in Melbourne. The event is traditionally held on a Monday, but was changed not clash with Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
While many dress to impress, over the years many have often missed the mark opting for garish, bold designs rather than elegant ensembles.
From BDSM-inspired gowns to Orthopedic-style shoes: A look back at the worst and down right garish red carpet moments from the Brownlow Medal count over the years (Pictured Gabi Grecko at the ceremony in 2014)
Gabi wasn’t the only shocking look on the 2014 red carpet. The same year Renee Enright, wife of Geelong Football Club’s Corey Enright, also suffered a fashion fail (left)
One of the biggest offenders was the late Geoffrey Edelsten’s fiancée Gabi Grecko, who made the mother of all fashion mishaps in 2014.
The American model and DJ, now 32, made sure all eyes were on her in a perilously low-cut embellished black number with a split so high it threatened to expose her modesty.
The front of her dress featured a plunging neckline almost cut to her navel, revealing her ample cleavage.
Meanwhile, an elaborate choker with heavily embellished shoulder detailing decorated her bust.
Another shocking look came in 2001, when Sarita Stella wore a red-leather football inspired gown with a matching clutch (left) In 2006, Catherine Chappelle dared with a thigh-split (right)
Ruby Keddie, the partner of then GWS Co-Captain Callan Ward wore a bright pink lacy gown with a satin skirt at the 2014 event
A thick bondage-style leather belt cinched her middle to show off off her diminutive waist.
But Gabi’s look wasn’t finished there.
The lads mag model rocked a Gaga-esque sharp blonde bob up top and dramatic white and black makeup, including bold eye-flicks were only overshadowed by her glittery face adornments.
Gabi was the fiancée of controversial Melbourne figure Geoffrey Edelsten at the time. They tied the knot in 2015, and separated months later. Geoffrey died last year aged 78.
Geoffrey’s other ex Brynne Edelsten made sure all eyes were on her at the 2012 Brownlow Medal count. Brynne took to the red carpet in a disco-ball style corset paired with a black feather tutu
The controversy continued in 2010 and 2011, when Brynne wore cleavage-baring gowns, over-the-top sequins and barely-there skirts
Gabi wasn’t the only shocking look on the 2014 red carpet.
The same year Renee Enright, wife of Geelong Football Club’s Corey Enright, also suffered a fashion fail.
Despite being a personal stylist, the mother-of-one rocked up on the red carpet in an unusual white trouser suit.
Shunning a gown unlike the rest of the WAGs, the brunette wore a plunging jacket with embellished, flared bottoms which were too long for the slender beauty.
Rather than looking at the runways of Paris of New York, others turned their focus to the game itself for fashion inspiration. In 2003, Fiona Mills wore a gown embellished with patches from each team
In 2015, Taylor Wilson, the partner of Collingwood’s Dane Swan, dared in a sheer skirt worn over a leotard to show off her leg tattoo
Ruby Keddie was another beauty who hit a sour note. The partner of then GWS Co-Captain Callan Ward wore a bright pink lacy gown with a satin skirt.
With a fussy bodice which was sheer in several places and teamed with netted sleeves, an addition of a pink strap that crossed the brunette’s toned and tanned shoulder blades gave the impression she’d got the strap on the wrong way round.
Another shocking look came in 2001, when Sarita Stella wore a red-leather football inspired gown with a matching clutch.
Meanwhile in 2006 Catherine Chappelle dared to bare with a thigh split which almost ended in a wardrobe malfunction.
Geoffrey’s other ex Brynne Edelsten made sure all eyes were on her at the 2012 Brownlow Medal count.
Unfortunately the vibrant yellow over-the-top ballgown didn’t do justice for Colombian beauty Ana Calle, who often topped the best-dressed lists at previous Brownlow events. The wife of Josh Kennedy made a very rare red carpet faux pas in an Disney princess-inspired dress with a form-fitting halter-neck bodice and a thick waist belt (right)
The girlfriend of Bombers star Dyson Heppell certainly turned heads in the bizarre black PVC bondage-inspired frock with a daring thigh split
Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons.
Brynne took to the red carpet in a disco-ball style corset paired with a black feather tutu.
The controversy continued in 2010 and 2011, when Brynne wore cleavage-baring gowns, over-the-top sequins and barely-there skirts.
Fashion trends over the years have seen women step out in everything from seventies-inspired prints to pink leopard print.
Rather than looking to the runways of Paris of New York, others turned their focus to the game itself for fashion inspiration. In 2003, Fiona Mills wore a gown embellished with patches from each team.
In 2015, Taylor Wilson, the partner of Collingwood’s Dane Swan, dared in a sheer skirt worn over a leotard to show off her leg tattoo.
2015 was a particularly shocking year for revealing dresses.
Jessica Todd donned a rather unflattering strapless purple gown with floral features in 2019
In 2019, Former Miss Universe Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs (left) and weather presenter Jane Bunn (right) neither succeeded in raising the style stakes after their questionable outfits
Leading the worst dressed list was Rebeccah Panozza, partner of Travis Cloke, who took the sheer look too far with an overly revealing dress.
She seemed to forget the golden ‘chest or legs’ rule, putting both assets on display with a plunging neckline and entirely see-through dress.
Fashion had improved by 2018, but some stars still managed to miss out on the heights of sartorial prowess.
Jarryn Geary’s partner Emma Giles made a bold statement in a plunging white number with bizarre pleated detailing around the bottom, a choice which divided critics.
More recently, frumpy dresses and awkward thigh-high splits to bizarre frills were commonplace.
Unfortunately a vibrant yellow over-the-top ballgown didn’t do justice for Colombian beauty Ana Calle, who often topped the best-dressed lists at previous Brownlow events.
In 2020, things went virtual with WAGs sharing social media photos in questionably cut-out gowns and bizarre footwear more orthopedic than old Hollywood glamour left a trail of fashion failure. Zoe Heard (left) the partner of Sydney Swans defender Jake Lloyd, grabbed attention for all the wrong reasons in an abstract midi-dress printed with bright blocks of orange, pink and burgundy
Poor choice of material also caused problems for Ellie Thornycroft, the partner of Collingwood ‘Magpies’ star Taylor Adams, who chose a lime green dress that appeared to be made out of Lycra – the most popular choice for swimwear
Emily Halverson, the partner of Brisbane Lions player Harris Andrews, chose an outfit that was smart but more suited to a corporate boardroom
The wife of Josh Kennedy made a very rare red carpet faux pas in a Disney princess-inspired dress with a form-fitting halter-neck bodice and a thick waist belt – while the billowing skirt did little to flatter her svelte figure.
She was certainly not the only one to pick a less-than-stylish number for the night.
Also missing the mark was Laura Griffin, who opted for a pale pink gown with an awkward thigh-high split.
Despite rocking her washboard abs, the brunette bombshell looked as though she was wearing a toga-inspired gown which failed to compliment her enviable figure.
Jess Tarrant, the wife of Robbie Tarrant, stepped out wearing an incredibly unflattering purple dress featuring a bandeau-style top half, a floor-length tulle skirt and the addition of the belt around her waist.
Kate Turner made a bold style statement as she stepped out in a very risqué, one-shouldered dress.
Lauren O’Shannassy, the wife of retired Fremantle star Matthew Pavlich, perhaps pushed the envelope too far with her quirky arthouse chic gown
Sarah Cumming, the glamorous wife of Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew, made a statement in a monochrome dress with an oversized bow and daring thigh split. However the blonde beauty was caught wearing what appeared to be the same exact same dress as Rebecca Demlakian – the girlfriend of Greater Western Sydney Giants star Stephen Coniglio
The girlfriend of Bombers star Dyson Heppell certainly turned heads in the bizarre black PVC bondage-inspired frock with a daring thigh split.
Failing to compliment her look, Jessica Todd donned a rather unflattering strapless purple gown with floral features and the belt around her waist was slightly unnecessary.
Former Miss Universe Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs and weather presenter Jane Bunn neither succeeded in raising the style stakes after their questionable outfits landed them on the worst-dressed list.
Scherri-Lee, the partner of Brad Sheppard, donned an incredibly quirky silver sequined dress with a white one-shoulder detail and a significant embellishment draping.
Jarryn Geary’s partner Emma Giles made a bold statement in a plunging white number with bizarre pleated detailing around the bottom, a choice which divided critics
Questionable looks came from Amy Pollard (left) in 2006 and Jacinta Spence (right) in 2010
In 2020, things went virtual with WAGs sharing social media photos in questionably cut-out gowns and bizarre footwear, which were more Orthopedic than old-Hollywood glamour.
Poor choices of material swamped trim physiques while others showed too much skin.
Zoe Heard, the partner of Sydney Swans defender Jake Lloyd, grabbed attention for all the wrong reasons in an abstract midi-dress printed with bright blocks of orange, pink and burgundy.
While the body-conscious fabric highlighted her trim physique, reverse black stitching between the colour panels disrupted the flow of the dress and would have been better left inside.
Andrew McLeod of the Adelaide Crows and his wife Rachel McLeod arrive for the 2006 red carpet with an interesting ’23’ on the back
Matters didn’t improve in the footwear department, as Heard opted for a bizarre pair of heeled sandals with thick beige straps that looked more orthopedic than old-Hollywood glamour.
Savahna Lyons, the partner of Brisbane Lions midfielder Jarryd Lyons, also missed the mark in an off-the-shoulder fuchsia dress with heavy ruching across the front that shrouded her petite figure in too much fabric.
Poor choice of material also caused problems for Ellie Thornycroft, the partner of Collingwood ‘Magpies’ star Taylor Adams, who chose a lime green maxi-dress that appeared to be made out of lycra – the most popular choice for swimwear.
The stretchy fabric hung limp and too low on her waist before falling in a heap around her sparkling silver stilettos which must have been tricky to move in.
Jess Hants (left) and Josie Charman (right) failed to impress in the sartorial stakes in 2006 and 2015 respectively
It was a different story for Emily Halverson, the partner of Brisbane Lions defender Harris Andrews, who chose an outfit that looked smart but more suited to a corporate boardroom than the biggest night in the Australian football calendar.
The most recent awards in 2021 saw many awkward and garish looks.
Lauren O’Shannassy, the wife of retired Fremantle star Matthew Pavlich, perhaps pushed the envelope too far with her quirky arthouse chic gown.
Richard Osborne arrives with wife Natalie, at the 2000 Brownlow Medal Presentation in a ill-fitting semi-sheer chain dress
Rebecca Maddern sported a bright orange outfit by Sonia Cappallezazo at the Brownlow Medal Ceremony in 2015
The dress featured layers of fabric which swathed her petite frame and consisted of billowing sleeves with a statement bow.
Lauren’s accessories were on the ultra glamorous side, with a quilted black Chanel handbag and delicate drop earrings.
Sarah Cumming, the glamorous wife of Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew, made a statement in a monochrome dress with an oversized bow and daring thigh split.
However the blonde beauty was caught wearing what appeared to be the same exact same dress as Rebecca Demlakian – the girlfriend of Greater Western Sydney Giants star Stephen Coniglio.
While Sarah teamed the look with black stiletto heels, Rebecca opted for black Dior heels with a chic ribbon detail.
Other famous misses came from Jordan Paplia in 2015 (left) and Julia Pietryk in 2006 (right)
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk