Daicos and Arlette steal spotlight at 2024 AFL Awards

AFL star Nick Daicos was all smiles on Thursday night as he stepped out at the 2024 AFL Awards in Melbourne with his stunning girlfriend Arlette on his arm.

The lovebirds led arrivals at Centrepiece with the Magpies midfielder, 21, looking dapper in a monochrome suit and tie.

Meanwhile, Arlette stole the show in a gorgeous brown dress which featured a strapless neckline and cheeky cutout across her midriff. 

Nick had plenty of reason to be happy at the big event as he snapped up the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.  

It put the AFL player neck and neck with Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli who claimed the other most prestigious award at the event.

The 28-year-old, who arrived with his partner Neila Brenning, took home the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players Association’s MVP.

Marcus and Neila looked every inch the matching pair as he donned a black suit and tie while she poured her figure into a black satin gown. 

Nick and Marcus’ wins have ramped up the anticipation for this year’s Brownlow Medal as they’re among the leading contenders this season. 

AFL star Nick Daicos, 21, (right) was all smiles on Thursday night as he stepped out at the 2024 AFL Awards in Melbourne with his stunning girlfriend Arlette (left) on his arm

Nick polled coaches votes in 16 of 23 games this season, including a maximum 10 votes on five separate occasions, and Marcus was named best captain by the AFLPA.

Elsewhere at the AFL Awards, Lachie Neale of the Lions arrived with his mother Amanda Neale.

The pair also matched in black, with Lachie, 31, who is expecting his second child with wife Jules, opting for a pop of colour with a red tie.

Max Gawn of the Demons and wife Jessica Todd also made an appearance. 

The lovebirds led arrivals at Centrepiece with the Magpies midfielder, 21, looking dapper in a monochrome suit and tie

Nick had plenty of reason to be happy at the big event as he snapped up the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award

It put the AFL player neck and neck with Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, 28, (pictured) who claimed the other most prestigious award at the event

 The 28-year-old, who arrived with his partner Neila Brenning (right), took home the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players Association’s MVP

Marcus and Neila looked every inch the matching pair as he donned a black suit and tie while she poured her figure into a black satin gown

The 32-year-old ruckman was all smiles as his partner stole the show in a royal blue halter neck gown. 

Geelong livewire Ollie Dempsey claimed his own spotlight at the awards ceremony as he took home the AFL Rising Star.

The forward, 21, scored the award after early favourites Harley Reid and Sam Darcy were ruled ineligible through suspension.

Calls on the league to change eligibility criteria were rejected in June when the West Coast and Western Bulldogs stars were both banned for two matches in round 12.

Elsewhere at the AFL Awards, Lachie Neale, 31, (left) of the Lions arrived with his mother Amanda Neale (right)

The pair also matched in black, with Lachie, who is expecting his second child with wife Jules, opting for a pop of colour with a red tie

Max Gawn, 32, (left) of the Demons and wife Jessica Todd (right) also made an appearance

The ruckman was all smiles as his partner stole the show in a royal blue halter neck gown

Harley, 19, was banned for rough conduct over a dangerous tackle on St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson, who finished fourth in the Rising Star award with 15 votes. 

Meanwhile, Sam, 21, was banned for his late hit on Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard.

The AFL maintained a ‘fairest’ component should be maintained in the eligibility criteria for the Rising Sun.

It left Ollie a clear standout among the competition’s eligible young talents after he polled 52 of a possible 55 votes.

Ollie is the second Geelong player to win the Rising Star award after club great Joel Selwood in 2007. 

Geelong livewire Ollie Dempsey, 21, (pictured) claimed his own spotlight at the awards ceremony as he took home the AFL Rising Star

Jesse Hogan, 29, (left) of the Giants arrived with model girlfriend Chloe Doven (right) looking angelic in all-white

Blues star Patrick Cripps, 29, (left) was all smiles beside his partner Monique Fontana (right) who stunned in a black satin and lace gown

Isaac Heeney, 28, (left) from the Swans attended with girlfriend Steffie Waters (right) who opted for a glittering green dress

Chad Warner, 23, (left) of the Swans was all smiles with partner Alice Hughes (right) who put on a busty display

Giants player Lachie Whitfield, 30, (right) and girlfriend Adelle Beckwith (left) also made an appearance