WAGs to get bigger slice of Brownlow pie Aaron Langmaid, Jackie Epstein
From: Herald Sun
September 24, 2011 BROWNLOW Medal counting will be delayed on Monday night to allow more time for footy's WAGs to shine on the blue carpet.
The blue carpet arrivals will be extended and voting will be pushed back 15 minutes as officials implement a plan to lure a wider TV audience and extend the brand to the northern states.
It is a move aimed at ensuring the Brownlow cements a reputation as the country's premier gala event - ahead of the Logies.
Richmond gun Brett Deledio says the Brownlow blue carpet should be given more prominence.
"It surprises me how little time the networks give it," he said.
"They generally have the same girls on, and my nan always complains. It would be nice to see more, given how much effort goes into it."
Tigers teammate Trent Cotchin is also a fan of the glamour girls on football's big night.
"There's a lot of public interest in the girls, and they do it well," he said.
"They represent all their designers and there should be as much interest in both sexes."
But not everybody is happy about it, with legends of the game urging organisers to stay true to the origins of the event.
"WAGs give it that edge at the front but it is more about the football," Collingwood great Tony Shaw said.
Ron Barassi also urged caution.
"The AFL would have to watch it to make sure the outside stuff doesn't take over," he said.
"But I also don't blame the league for going down this track."
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said Brownlow night was bigger than the Logies.
"The Brownlow is exciting because it is a time-honoured award with great prestige around it and I think people have the utmost respect for it, and it has just become a very large event," he said.
"It is the biggest event on the Australian calendar from an entertainment perspective."
"It's probably surpassed the Logies now because of the effort that goes into it from the players to their partners and the industry it has created around fashion.
"It's a fantastic event on television, its ratings are phenomenal, so there is a great expectation."
This year will feature a "Hero Wall" - headshots of every Brownlow Medallist.
Official proceedings will start 15 minutes later allowing for the extension of the red-carpet pre-show special. It means the winner won't be known until just before 11pm.
The change follows a significant revamp last year after the drunken behaviour of Brendan Fevola in 2009.
Less time is allowed for pre-dinner drinks and TV coverage includes advertisements aimed at encouraging responsible consumption of alcohol.
Deledio and Cotchin will be looking dapper in suits from Soho Workshop.
Deledio's partner Katie Chivers, wearing a Pamela Usanto dress, has a stylist as well.
"It's a good chance to get dressed up even though we don't get that much time to organise things," the account manager said.
"Everyone has their own style and I think that's important otherwise it would be boring.
"It does get hard to buy dresses all the time, especially full length gowns which you probably wouldn't wear again. So it's good to be given gowns and you do the best you can."
Cotchin's girlfriend Brooke Kennedy flew to Sydney on Tuesday to pick up her dress from designer Billi Keato.
Trent Cochin, Brooke Kennedy, Katie Chivers and Brett Deledio. Picture: Alex Coppel Herald Sunhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/wags-unveil-a-taste-for-style-ahead-of-the-brownlow-medal/story-fn422eni-1226144903174
