Brownlow Medal 2025: WAGs steal the spotlight on the red carpet with daring fashion

In its centenary year, the Brownlow Medal’s red carpet again doubled as a fashion stage, with WAGs, partners and a rotating cast of guests arriving in high-gloss gowns, sculpted silhouettes and headlining jewelry. The night, traditionally defined by votes and statistics, was dominated by style talk long before the first tally was read, as designers and stylists staged a couture showcase that underscored the event’s growing role as a fashion moment in Australian culture.

From the moment the carpet opened, standout looks rolled out in a stream of color, texture and audacity. Monique Cripps, wife of Patrick Cripps, arrived in a custom bedazzled black gown accented by a chic neck scarf. The look leaned into understated glamour, with a sheer panel adding drama while a sleek bun kept the silhouette clean. Nearby, influencer Elle Ray drew attention in a plunging crimson couture gown whose tailored lines hugged her petite frame, a statement piece that felt modern rather than merely glamorous. Former AFL player turned host Abbey Holmes offered black-tie polish in a sculpted black gown, paired with dazzling diamonds and a slicked-back hairstyle that read as timelessly elegant.

Libby Clifford, partner of Geelong’s Connor O’Sullivan, embraced minimalism in a creamy off-white gown with soft ruffles and a demure slit, a quiet counterpoint to louder looks elsewhere on the carpet. Rebecca Maddern, a familiar presence on red carpets, conveyed old-Hollywood charm in a buttery-pink gown with side-swept waves and a line of sleek buttons adding a contemporary twist. Tiffany Mills, wife of Callum Mills, celebrated a pregnancy glow in a silvery-lavender gown that draped softly and shimmered with movement.

Midway through the crawl of looks, the carpet offered a wider spectrum of daring and impeccably styled ensembles. Tiana Simic, Carlton’s Charlie Curnow’s fiancée, broke from the traditional black-tie rule with a minimalist frock paired with a fur coat and strappy stilettos, a combination both simple and undeniably cool. Natasha Germano, partner of Essendon’s Nic Martin, arrived in a black gown with a structured neckline and subtle sparkle, its cheeky sheer panels giving a wink to trend without overwhelming the frame. Lexi Mary, the Western Bulldogs’ Rory Lobb’s partner, stepped into sci-fi territory with an iridescent holographic gown that caught light like an oil slick, a look that felt futuristic and carefully styled. Jules Neale, wife of Lachie Neale, pushed the thigh-high trend to a new threshold, flashing a leg from toe to mid-hip at certain angles and owning the risk with confidence.

Charli Wheeler, the Suns’ Noah Anderson’s partner, heightened drama with a feather-trimmed creation and a plunging neckline, while Rosie Konstantinou and Paige Bramley (Crows partners) joined the risqué club with gowns that left little to the imagination. The boldness continued with Elllie Dickinson, partner of Sam Flanders, who wore a chainmail-esque top with a ruched tan skirt, a look that balanced impracticality with hair and makeup perfection. Timnah Poratt, Luke Davies-Uniacke’s partner, arrived in a metallic gold mesh ensemble that read as futuristic and fearless, the mesh catching light from every angle. Onlookers also noted Ariarne Titmus, Olympic champion in swimming, whose plunge necklines prompted debate about fit and glow, while Meka Norton-Smith offered an avant-garde sculptural bodice with a high-shine look that skewed toward liquid vinyl.

Other notable choices included Chloe Furnari, Caleb Serong’s partner, in a dramatic chocolate-brown showstopper with an extra-long sweeping train that invited admiration and occasional concern about practicality on a long carpet, and Isabella Cavallaro, Jason Horne-Francis’s partner, who floated in wearing a bridal-esque gown that pleased onlookers for its beauty but raised questions about venue appropriateness. Steffanie Waters, girlfriend of Isaac Heeney, complemented the emerald silhouette with a bodice that felt a touch stiff for her petite frame, illustrating how even well-cut gowns must balance structure with movement. Tippah Dwan, Josh Dunkley’s partner, wore a sculptural two-tone creation in lavender and dark navy that was as much art as dress, while Jessica Gawn (Max Gawn's partner) and Ardu Cubillo leaned into transparency as part of their ensembles, a controversial but consistently trending move across global red carpets.

The night’s palette skewed toward jewel tones and bold reds, with cherry and merlot tones dominating the carpet. That color wave paralleled a broader appetite for sheer panels, dramatic necklines, and metallic textures—a mix that keeps the Brownlow’s fashion coverage as much a topic of conversation as the on-field vote tally. Yet while many outfits drew praise for their tailoring and confidence, not every gamble paid off. Several looks—some favored for their sheer audacity—were met with mixed reactions from fashion watchers and fans alike, underscoring the event’s role as a stage for risk as much as refinement.

As the countdown to the votes begins, the 2025 Brownlow Medal once again demonstrates that footy’s biggest night is as much about culture and spectacle as it is about sport. The red carpet has become a platform where personal style, celebrity presence, and fashion storytelling intersect, producing headlines, group-chat buzz and social-media conversations that persist long after the final vote is tallied. The breadth of looks captured the moment’s dual nature: a celebration of glamour and a forum for bold fashion choices that push the boundaries of what is acceptable on a sports-stage carpet. Whether the style will stand the test of time or spark continued debate, the evening confirmed one enduring truth: for many, the Brownlow’s sartorial chapter is now inseparable from its sporting narrative.