A designer, account manager and marketing executive: Meet the glamorous WAGs of the AFL Grand Final
They’re the wives and girlfriends set to stun at the MCG as their footy player partners hit the ground for the Tigers and GWS. These are the WAGs to watch on Grand Final Day.
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There’s one inescapable reality of dating — or marrying — an AFL player … being referred to as a WAG (AKA a wife or girlfriend).
These significant others will be sitting in the stadium stands at the MCG tomorrow, flanked by family members, to support their footy star partners playing for premiership favourites Richmond or Grand Final newcomers Greater Western Sydney, as the teams clash for September glory.
From marketing account managers to radio sales executives and even rising Instagram stars-of-the-future, these are the Grand Final WAGs-to-watch.
Lainey McIntyre, girlfriend of Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia, was a red carpet favourite on Brownlow night, sporting a one-sleeved gown featuring a trend of the night — a thigh-split.
With 3,200 Instagram followers and a serious career (she is a media account manager with a business degree), McIntyre, 25, said the build-up to the Grand Final has been “pretty calm” and the couple has maintained a usual routine.
“Dion is a really relaxed person and has an incredible ability to shake off any nerves and keep his cool,” McIntyre told News Corp.
She’ll be at the big game “cheering on the boys”. “I normally sit with Dion’s parents and sisters and I’m really lucky that my parents are able to attend this year,” she said.
“Normally they place all the players’ families and partners in close vicinity, so we can all get into the game together.”
For McIntyre, preparing for the Grand Final means she and Prestia go for “early morning dog walks and coffee to start the day, a healthy home cooked dinner (I cook, he cleans) and some time to hang out, watch telly and relax before bed”.
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McIntyre was a standout on Brownlow night and used a stylist to put together her outfit three weeks out from the big day, and worked from a hotel room at Crown in between makeup and a hair appointment with celebrity hairdresser Marie Uva, of Uva Salon (she was also behind the tresses of Nadia Bartel).
As for pre-GF social media, McIntyre said it wasn’t really something they worry about. “Dion posts about 3 photos a year and I don’t have a huge following,” she said.
“We’ve received a little more attention since the Brownlow, however it’s all been really lovely and positive.
“I’ve found Facebook users way more critical than Instagram users and have been known to strike back at the comments that are really uncalled for.
“Though it’s important just to take it all with a grain of salt and understand how reactive and passionate fans can be.”
Also supporting the Tigers tomorrow will be Olivia Burke, girlfriend of Richmond forward Tom Lynch.
Burke attended the Brownlow earlier this week, sharing posts about the night (and her Cassandra Renee Couture metallic silver dress) to her 4,100 Instagram followers.
Burke, 25, has a growing social media presence but also maintains a serious career in marketing.
“My plans for Grand Final Day are to just keep things as normal as possible in the morning, we’ll probably take Gryff (the couple’s dog) for a walk, get coffee and then come home to relax before Tom heads off,” Burke told News Corp.
“I will be sitting with Tom’s family, there is a big group of us going.”
As for the days prior to the match, Burke said it has “felt the same as any other lead up to a game”.
“We don’t really speak about football much at home, so while it has been super exciting, it hasn’t felt all that different,” she said.
“During this week in the lead up to the GF, we have just kept things as normal as possible minus the whole Brownlow part … and have just gone through the motions like we would any other week.”
Burke said she tries to stay positive on social media and “keep it in perspective”.
“What you see on social media is someone’s highlight reel, and I think people need to remember that,” she said.
And while her Instagram is full of glamorous Brownlow photos, she confesses to “posting some of my Brownlow pictures in my PJs, Ugg boots, and a messy bun on my couch with my Ubereats delivery bag beside me”.
Brooke Cotchin — the wife of Richmond captain Trent Cotchin — is another Tigers WAG-to-watch.
With more than 32,000 Instagram followers, the mother-of-three is a designer (she designed a maternity collection with sportswear label, Tully Lou) and influencer, though her approach to social media is very real and raw.
Brooke used the platform to open up about the difficult labour she endured in July for the birth of the couple’s baby son, Parker, who was delivered by emergency cesarian (the couple also have daughters Harper, four, and Mackenzie, three).
On the Greater Western Sydney front, there’s Greta Kernan, girlfriend of GWS co-captain Phil Davis.
Kernan attended the Giants’ Brownlow night function in Sydney wearing a glittering white gown.
Ruby Keddie, wife of GWS co-captain Cal Ward, debuted her baby bump at the Giants’ Brownlow night function in Sydney on Monday.
The couple tied the knot at a $50 million harbourside mansion in January, after dating for eight years and meeting when they were in high school.
The groom wore a white tuxe and Keddie’s wedding dress was designed by Melbourne-based WAG designer favourite, Cappellazzo Couture.
Ahead of their nuptials, a romantic Ward told The Daily Telegraphhe always knew Ruby was “the one”.
“I proposed a year and a bit ago and now we’re getting married. I’ve always known she’s the one I’ll end up with,” he said.
He had popped the question in public, in front of a 170-strong audience at a Melbourne cinema — including Keddie’s family — at a screening of Murder on the Orient Express.
Indiana Putra, girlfriend of GWS player Jeremy Cameron, is another name on the WAGs-to watch radar.
With more than 1,000 followers on Instagram, Putra turned heads at the Giants’ Brownlow function wearing a saffron yellow gown by Effie Kats.
Originally published as A designer, account manager and marketing executive: Meet the glamorous WAGs of the AFL Grand Final
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