The 2026 Brownlow Medal was not only about football and the medal count. The event’s famous red carpet also attracted major attention, particularly around the outfits worn by players’ partners.
News.com.au has used this year’s event to question what it describes as a gender double standard in Brownlow red-carpet coverage. The argument is that women’s clothing, bodies and appearance often receive much more detailed media attention than men’s fashion.
The issue is not new. Similar criticism has appeared around the Brownlow for years. In 2016, Annie Nolan deliberately wore a suit similar to her husband’s outfit to highlight what she described as the different treatment of female partners on the red carpet.
The 2026 event again showed the contrast. Fashion coverage heavily focused on women’s gowns, jewellery, styling and accessories, while men’s outfits were generally discussed through suits, tailoring and overall presentation. ABC News also noted that although players arrived in formal suits, their dates’ dresses became a major focus of the red carpet coverage.
At the same time, this year’s male attendees received more fashion attention than in some previous years. Herald Sun coverage highlighted sharp tailoring and noted examples such as Rory Lobb re-wearing his wedding suit.
The debate therefore goes beyond whether the outfits were fashionable. It raises a broader question about how media coverage of men and women differs when both appear at the same public event.
Main Points
- The Brownlow Medal 2026 took place at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium.
- The red carpet once again became a major part of the event’s media coverage.
- Women’s outfits received extensive attention across fashion and entertainment coverage.
- News.com.au questioned whether this reflects a continuing gender double standard.
- Similar criticism was raised at the Brownlow in previous years.
- Men’s fashion was also highlighted more prominently at this year’s event.
- The discussion is ultimately about differences in media attention and commentary, rather than simply the clothes themselves.
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