Essendon players and their partners attend best and fairest night at Crown
After a tough season, Essendon players and their partners put their best foot forward at the club’s end of year awards.
Confidential
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Essendon’s Crichton Medal was the final night of best and fairest glamour at Crown on Monday night.
The arrivals were a mix of colourful and modern cut out frocks and traditional black tie gowns as the group of young players stepped out for the club’s awards.
Darcy Parish and fiancé Grace Stanton, wearing eye-catching electric blue, are set to tie the knot in January after becoming engaged a month ago.
“We’re getting married in Geelong, we have a few other weddings in between but we’re very relaxed kind of people so we don’t need the stress of it being any longer,” said Stanton who will wear a Jane Hill bridal gown.
Retired midfielder David Zaharakis and his partner Amy Pejkovic were also standouts, as were Jake Stringer and Taylor McVeigh, plus Mason Redman and Emma Shepherd, Archie Perkins and Coco Prentice, Kyle Langford and Lulu Scott-Young and Sam Draper and Izzy Burgess.
Other guests at the event included former club champions Matthew Lloyd, Dustin Fletcher and Mark Harvey.
HAWKS GLAMOUR GIRLS STEAL THE SHOW
The glamour girls of Hawthorn stepped out for the Peter Crimmins Medal on Saturday night at Crown.
Forward Jack Gunston, who intends to head north to Brisbane, was accompanied by model Dani Shreeve while Jaeger O’Meara’s partner Tory Packer was also a standout.
Defender James Sicily capped a consistent season with his first best and fairest at the club, finishing narrowly ahead of exciting youngster Jai Newcombe.
It was a big week for Sicily who proposed to his partner Emma Cooper.
Daicos boys’ partners shine at Pies B&F
Collingwood’s stars and their partners shone at the club’s best and fairest awards at Crown on Friday night.
Glamour was ever present with many fashion statements at The Copeland Trophy, including from Annalise Dalins, partner of Josh Daicos; Arlette Jones, partner of Nick Daicos; Kahlia Howe, wife of Jeremy Howe; Mikayla Crisp, wife of Jack Crisp; and Alex Pendlebury, wife of captain Scott Pendlebury.
Dalins and Pendlebury were wearing Oglia-Loro Couture gowns: Mikayla Crisp was in Atoir – all styled by Paul Versace from Styled by Bloom. Dalins and Jones were standouts at their first Brownlow Medal.
Newly re-signed Jordan De Goey bypassed waiting cameras but was popular with fans in the room.
Host Brian Taylor congratulated the players on their season.
Melbourne and Carlton also held their best and fairest nights on Friday.
Cats celebrate ‘whirlwind’ premiership
Premiership medals, baby bumps and ruffled shirts were on full display as Geelong toasted its flag-winning success on Thursday night.
Kirsten Stanley is 24 weeks with her and Rhys’ third child.
“I’ve popped!” she said at the Carji Greeves Medal at Crown.
“The footy club has always been so good with kids and families and I’m very proud of these boys, they did it.”
Rhys said: “We had a great day Monday and watched the game on replay in Geelong over a few beers and it’s been a pretty great week.”
Brit Selwood, expecting her and Joel’s first child, is almost four months. Joel announced his retirement this week.
“It’s been emotional and exhausting,” she said.
“But I’m so proud, always proud of him and everyone has been amazing.
“We’re going to Hawaii soon to relax and sit on a beach.”
Cam Guthrie just made it home for the first time on Wednesday.
“I’m trying to enjoy the moment and trying to embrace it,” he said.
“But last night was time to go home. It is what you play footy for.”
Mark Blicavs still didn’t have a voice.
“It’s been a fun and busy week and my voice is getting better,” he said. “It’s been a whirlwind week so far. This is a suit that’s seven years old so this is my go-to suit that I wear for all of these occasions.”
Irishman Zac Tuohy said he’d been inundated with support and messages.
“Doing the lap at the end of the game with my kids was probably the highlight of my career so far,” he said.
His wife Bec said: “I didn’t watch the first half because I was that nervous but the second half was amazing.”
BAILEY’S GIRLFRIEND SHINES AT DOGS B&F
The Western Bulldogs celebrated their season with a gathering of players and partners that included a rare outing for Bailey Smith and his girlfriend Gemma Dawkins.
The young glamorous couple joined Smith’s friends and teammates at Crown as brunette Dawkins mingled with many of the other ladies at the club’s best and fairest on Wednesday night.
Wearing a black strapless gown, she was seen in pictures posted to social media with Logan Shine, pregnant partner of recently re-signed Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen; Lou MacLeod, partner of midfielder Jack Macrae; Penelope Bruce, wife of Josh Bruce; Elle Neofytou, partner of most improved player Ed Richards; and Laine Kelly, partner of Laith Vandermeer.
Before the event Smith unveiled his new tattoo of a dragon across his back with the words “i feel like pablo”. He was also photographed with the father of forward Aaron Naughton as they showed off matching mullets.
Josh Dunkley, who has flagged his intention to join Brisbane, won the Charles Sutton Medal from Tom Liberatore, thanked his partner, netballer Tippah Dwan.
“I knew that I’d be shitting myself up here so I wrote down a few words,’’ Dunkley said.
“To my girlfriend Tippah, words can’t describe how much you mean to me and I’m so grateful to have you in my life. Love you so much, your support honestly means the world and I hope I give you the happiness you give me, so thanks Tip.”
Dusty a no-show at Tigers B&F
Richmond players and their partners turned on the glam at the club’s best and fairest night at Crown on Tuesday night.
Daniel Rioli and Paris Lawrence were again a standout couple as they were at the Brownlow, and coach Damien Hardwick was happily snapped with his partner Alexandra Crow.
Notably absent from the Jack Dyer Medal was superstar midfielder Dustin Martin. All-Australian forward Shai Bolton, who recently became a father, was accompanied by teammates.
Brooke and Trent Cotchin made a glamorous entrance while young forward Noah Cumberland was accompanied by his stunning partner, Natalie Soligo.
Other eye-catching couples were Hugo Ralphsmith and Bella Coker-Smith and Nick Vlastuin and Georgia Kelly.
There was much emotion as presentations were made to departing players Kane Lambert, Josh Caddy and Shane Edwards.
Forward Tom Lynch, accompanied by his beautiful partner, Liv Burke, capped off one of his best years at the club by claiming the best and fairest.
A big finals series helped him to a nailbiting one vote win over defender Daniel Rioli.
Burke wrote on social media: “Jack Dyer medal last night with the Jack Dyer medallist!! What the hell!! The actual last thing I expected last night but so bloody proud of you on and off the field. No words”.
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