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Angus Brayshaw and Dani Frawley: Fans go wild over Dees’ historic win

Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw’s emotional shout-out to his girlfriend Dani after the Demons’ win was one famous sporting family reaching out to another.

Fiona Byrne, Mitch Ryan and Grace Baldwin
4 min read
September 26, 2021 - 10:44AM
Sunday Herald Sun
Danny Frawley.
Danny Frawley.

Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw’s emotional shout out to his girlfriend Dani during an interview with Channel 7 after the Demons’ historic Grand Final win on Saturday was one famous sporting family reaching out to another.

Brayshaw’s long-time partner is Danielle Frawley, the daughter of the dearly missed St Kilda great Danny Frawley who lost his life in 2019.

The pair’s relationship was put in the spotlight on Saturday by none other than Danielle’s mother Anita, who revealed the Frawley and Brayshaw families knew there was a special spark between the pair when they were just seven-years-old.

“We have been family friends with Debra and Mark (Brayshaw, Angus’s parents) for many, many years, going back 20 - 25 years, and we were at their house in Sandringham many years ago and Angus and Danielle were there,” Anita told ABC Radio Melbourne’s Libbi Gorr.

“Mark and I picked up straight away. I said ‘there is a spark here Mark’ and we had a great laugh.

“We have a photo of them back in the day when they were seven and we joke about it now that it was right back in those early days that we thought something would happen.

“He is a beautiful man.”

Angus Brayshaw celebrates after winning the 2021 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Paul Kane
Angus Brayshaw celebrates after winning the 2021 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Paul Kane

While their parents spotted the spark between Angus, 25, and Danielle at that tender age, it was not until years later that they actually started dating.

“They both went to school at Haileybury (in Melbourne) and they both just eventually connected,” Anita said.

“They both had different lives and all of a sudden reconnected.”

She said Angus’s sensational year with the Demons had helped her find the joy in football again, something that had been on the backburner as she dealt with Danny’s mental health battle and subsequent sudden passing.

“After the trauma that we went through the football world really put their arms around the girls and I and I think when you go through the trauma and the five years leading into it, I just did not have time for football, I did not think about it too much,” she said.

“But now, especially during lockdown, how wonderful it is that we have had the season to look back on and now of course with Danielle’s boyfriend Gus in the grand final.”

Danielle Frawley and Angus Brayshaw went to school together and later in life connected. Picture: Instagram
Danielle Frawley and Angus Brayshaw went to school together and later in life connected. Picture: Instagram
Anita Frawley with daughters Chelsea and Danielle. Picture: Alex Coppel
Anita Frawley with daughters Chelsea and Danielle. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mark Brayshaw played for the North Melbourne Football Club before going on to executive roles including CEO of the AFL Coaches Association.

His brother is Channel 7 and Triple M commentator James Brayshaw.

Danny Frawley played 240 games for the St Kilda Football Club and coached Richmond for four years between 2000 - 2004.

Meanwhile, wife of Demons skipper Max Gawn, Jessica, shared a celebratory selfie on her Instagram, holding her heavily pregnant belly in front of the TV screen.

Twitter tributes have also flooded in for Christian Petracca who took home the Norm Smith medal after his blistering performance against the Western Bulldogs.

Premier Daniel Andrews was also quick to congratulate the Demons, sharing a photo of Neale Daniher on Twitter with the caption: “Gave em hell. And I reckon they’ve given this guy a hell of a smile too”.

Jessica Gawn has shared a sweet celebratory pic as she watched husband Max win the premiership.
Jessica Gawn has shared a sweet celebratory pic as she watched husband Max win the premiership.

Melbourne Football Club legend Neale Daniher has shared a photo on his Instagram account in front of his TV, decked out in a Demons scarf.

He captioned the image: “Back of the bus baby! All Melbourne supporters rejoice.”

The image of Daniher was reposted by the official AFL account, captioned “The absolute best!”.

Many of the tributes pouring in for the Melbourne side are paying homage to Daniher, honouring his contributions to not only the sport but to Fight MND.

His daughter Bec earlier shared grainy snaps from 21 years ago, showing the Danihers in head-to-toe Demons gear.

She shared the photos with the tag “21 years ago … here’s to one better.”

Former Premier Jeff Kennett also took to Twitter to pay a “hearty congratulations” to the Dees.

“A convincing win, for the club and the code. A win well deserved.”

Former Liberal Leader Michael O’Brien called for Dees supporters to be allowed to break curfew on the occasion.

“If Daniel Andrews had an ounce of empathy, he’d suspend the curfew for Melbourne supporters tonight. It’s been a long wait since 1964. Reckon we deserve to see Range Rovers with Demons scarfs doing laps around East Melbourne tonight.”

The girlfriend of Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca, Bella Beischer, posted a video of her partner receiving his medal with the caption “I’m so proud”.

Former AFL player Jordan Lisle added to the roar of praise for Petracca, tweeting: “Far out Petracca. What a footballer.”

This comes as the Demons midfielder claimed the record for the most disposals in a Grand Final (40), previously held by Simon Black in 2003 for the Brisbane Lions (39).

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard — a diehard Bulldogs supporter — said: “A great win for the Dees — well deserved, and well waited for. Commiserations to the Western Bulldogs players, coaches and staff. Upwards and onwards for next year.”

The Melbourne FC Instagram has posted heartwarming videos of the team on the ground, many of whom are reduced to tears.

The videos show respective skippers Gawn and Bontempelli embracing and laughing together, the latter congratulating the Dees on their performance.

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Originally published as Angus Brayshaw and Dani Frawley: Fans go wild over Dees’ historic win

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/victoria/fans-go-wild-over-dees-historic-win/news-story/dda219f18235091fb7112a8d5bda44af