The 2026 AFL Brownlow Medal has come and gone, with Collingwood midfielder Nick Daicos clinching the top honour. While the evening is, first and foremost, a celebration of the season that was and the players who defined it, there is another facet that proves equally enticing: the red carpet.
Despite Nick walking away with the night’s most coveted prize, it was his brother Josh Daicos and fiancée Annalise Dalins who captured attention in their own right.
Held annually at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium, the evening is as much a celebration of glamour as it is of football’s finest, and for the occasion, Annalise opted for a custom Alin Le’ Kal couture creation.
Speaking to The Archive Podcast, the designer revealed that Annalise’s look was intentionally conceived as a departure from her previous Brownlow appearances.
“With Annalise, we had to do a bit of research with what she has worn in the past, and we went with the complete opposite,” he explained.
“I wanted to bring the sexy back and a bit darker [styling], I would say.”
The gown was sculpted around an elongated basque waist and plunging sweetheart neckline, accented with intricate lace and delicate beaded embroidery. From there, a sheer skirt was gathered delicately at the hips before cascading into layers of fine black tulle. And while the gown was a standout, it was her jewellery that truly stole the spotlight.
Annalise dazzled in an extraordinary 40 carats of Temelli diamonds, with the glittering collection reportedly valued at almost $1 million.
Among the standout pieces was a tennis bracelet featuring two strands of pavé-set diamonds that snaked delicately around her wrist, while her ear stack was every bit as striking. An oval diamond stud was paired with a pear-shaped counterpart, finished with a pavé diamond ear cuff for an additional dose of sparkle.
The couple’s appearance arrives mere months before they are set to walk down the aisle for their November nuptials, following a two-year engagement.
Speaking to 9Honey at the 2024 Australian Open, Daicos recalled the seemingly serendipitous moment he first crossed paths with his now-fiancée at a bar on Melbourne’s Chapel Street.
“I’d spoken to Anna before on Instagram, but we randomly met one night there,” he said, revealing he had already “recognised” the model, who was out with friends.
“As soon as I saw her, I saw her smile and it made it so easy to go over there and talk to her, and the conversation just flowed,” he recalled.
Given Annalise’s undeniable sartorial prowess, it’s safe to say we’ll be watching closely to see what she chooses to wear when she walks down the aisle.
