Red carpet cleavage is a TV staple

WHO'S this wowser telling the Brownlow WAGs to cover up? Ladies, do not listen to this advice.

WHO'S this wowser telling the Brownlow WAGs to cover up?

Ladies, do not listen to this advice. Style guru Mia Jones may have cred in Hollywood hotspots, but she's messing with the wrong red carpet.

This is Melbourne, it's footy, and we love our gorgeous, fleshy, eye-popping Brownlow babes.

We love seeing legs and cleavage and cheeky tattoos spilling out of flamboyant frocks on happy young women enjoying a night out.

But in the way that often happens when things get very important and serious, the fun police are called in to spin and style and make the WAGs virtually unrecognisable.

Ms Jones, who previously rubbed shoulders with very famous, very stylish people at the Emmys and the Oscars, has been enlisted to wave a magic wand over some footballers and their partners.

Yes, the blokes too, mind-bogglingly, but that's a whole other issue.

Jones says it is simply "not acceptable for these girls to be baring their flesh when it's about the partners".

Really? Are you absolutely sure? Because we kind of like it.

She also says, "I'd love to create a point of difference and say this is what awards red-carpet dressing is all about".

Please don't. You see, it's the Brownlow Medal night and at this point in time the best thing about it is Brynne.

Now ladies, we know you're under a lot of pressure and we understand the stress-induced desire to call in the experts.

We know you're mostly "normal girls" who feel as though you have to pull off the mother of all transformations for footy's night of nights.

We know the amount of work that goes into this brief bask in the spotlight borders on bridal.

And we know about Rebecca Judd.

But guess what else? Whether you're a size 6 or 16, you're young, hot and perky so fear not and keep a sense of humour.

Some of the most memorable moments in football -- not just at the Brownlow -- happen on that red carpet. Not one of them is demure.

Remember the two Tanias -- now wives of Nathan Buckley and James Hird -- in their pre-family days?

These two classy women knew how to shock frock. The most memorable was that sparkling G-string popping out the back of the white number Mrs Buckley was almost wearing.

And not a Brownlow night passes without mention of Rebecca Judd and the outfit now famously known as "that red dress".

So you see, WAGs? For those of us at home, the more outrageous and fun, the better.

You don't need to cover up, spend an obscene amount of money or be styled out of all personality to look fabulous. That's a treadmill that just gets faster and faster.

And damn it, Ms Jones has been misinformed if she thinks the WAGs are second fiddle to the footy stars.

They may be in theory, but in the court of public opinion, on this particular night, they are key to the equation -- a highlight in an otherwise bland, but important affair.

As the women behind the men, who've cheered and consoled during a long, cold winter on the sidelines, they've earned some fun in the sun.

In the overly serious world of football, it's fabulous to see the other halves cut loose on the red carpet.

But please, girls, remember ... more personality, less perfection, makes for a much more entertaining evening for all.

Sally Bennett is a staff writer