Baby bump was the new black on the blue carpet

THE hottest accessory on the Brownlow blue carpet for 2011? A burgeoning baby bump.

Brownlow Medal

THE hottest accessory on the Brownlow blue carpet for 2011? A burgeoning baby bump.

But Geelong star Steve Johnson's pregnant partner Erin Biggs was unable to join the pregnant fashionistas, after he pulled out of the high-profile ceremony to rest ahead of Saturday's grand final.

Biggs was understood to be devastated to be missing the chance to shine alongside expecting mums WAG Nation star Lynette Bolton, wife of Sydney's Jude Bolton, and Haylea MacCann, partner to Bulldog Adam Cooney.

Bolton glowed in a white Alex Perry frock. She said she had reservations about walking on the blue carpet while five months pregnant.

"I was a little bit nervous because there was a little bit of talk about it (being pregnant) but I'm at the stage now where it doesn't look like I've eaten too much," she laughed.

MacCann, who does not know the sex of her baby, said she was enjoying "letting it all hang out".

" At least I've got an excuse this year but no wine, that's weird," she said.

New mums were also dazzling.

Kelly Giansiracusa, wife of Bulldogs star Daniel gave birth to the couple's second child, a son Otis, just two weeks ago but was a knock out in Thurley.

"It was a little bit hectic in the lead up with feeding and breast pumps," she said.

"But we only needed two fittings which was good."

Mum of two Alisha Scotland, wife to blue boy Heath, looked stunning in Baccini & Hill. She said there was pressure to return to pre-pregnancy size, "especially when Rebecca Twigley (now Judd) looks the way she does after just two months".

New mum and wife of Collingwood captain Nick, Erin Maxwell, turned heads in her structured dress by Julie Simonelli.

After being pregnant at last year's Brownlow, Maxwell said it was a relief to not be dressing a bump. " It's much easier without the accessories," she laughed.

"My mum's down. She's minding Milla. She's easy, too easy. Everyone's just saying, 'When's the next one?' "

Meanwhile eight weeks after giving birth, Rebecca Judd was in incredible form in Aurelio Costarella. "It's a corset, sucks it all in," she said.

Judd said it had been a scramble to get ready, while juggling baby Oscar. "Normally I'm ready a month in advance."