Barry Hall's fiancee Sophie Raadschelders prepares for the Brownlow Medal

BARRY Hall is no gentleman on the football field, but away from the game that is how fiancee Sophie Raadschelders describes him.

BIG bad Barry Hall is no gentleman on the football field, but away from the heat of battle that is exactly how his bride-to-be Sophie Raadschelders describes him.

 They will attend tonight's Brownlow medal count and Ms Raadschelders said she was excited but unsure what to expect from her debut at the event.

"I have obviously seen the red dress," she said, referring to the frock that made Rebecca Twigley a celebrity.

"It will be interesting to see what she comes up with this year.

"It's more about the boys, although the girls seem to steal the spotlight a little bit. We are there for the boys, and hope that they have a good night.

"I am more of a shy person than a spotlight kind of girl. I don't know - we will see how I go."

Hall and Ms Raadschelders, 26, moved to Melbourne together from Sydney a year ago after he left the Swans to join the Western Bulldogs under a trade deal.

From a career interrupted by on-field outbursts to runner-up in this year's Coleman Medal for the leading goalkicker, Hall's transformation is one of the success stories of the season.

"I can't give away all his secrets but he is very much a gentleman and he takes super good care of me," Ms Raadschelders said.

"He is not a walkover, but he is definitely not the bad man people possibly perceive him as."

Ms Raadschelders' Brownlow preparation hit a hurdle when she came down with a cold at the weekend, but she still hoped to shine tonight.

She gave the Herald Sun a sneak peek of her red-carpet style in Thurley gowns and Renato Jewellers diamonds at David Jones' Bourke St store personal shopping suite.

Thurley, who has dressed Lauren Phillips in previous years, has offered Ms Raadschelders a frock for this evening and Renato will lend her a fortune in sparklers.

Hall has visited Dom Bagnato for a black-tie suit.