Former AFL coach and premiership player Dani Laidley has spoken of her pride of returning to the Brownlow Medal after her gender transition.
The ex-North Melbourne player and boss walked the red carpet with partner and childhood sweetheart Donna Leckie on Sunday night at Crown Casino in Melbourne.
The pair wore matching white dresses.
Watch Fox Footy’s massive line-up of Grand Final week coverage on Kayo including live pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage with full analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Try 14 days free >
“Perhaps eight or nine Brownlows (I’ve attended before),” Laidley said.
“Now to be here celebrating as myself, I’m so very grateful.”
Laidley transitioned from a man to a woman in recent years, the 55-year-old telling her story in a recent book, Don’t Look Away.
Her partner Leckie was asked by Nine what the night meant to them and their relationship.
“I don’t know how to answer that because every time I try to I cry,” she said.
The pair also spoke on Seven’s red carpet coverage.
MORE BROWNLOW COVERAGE …
BLUES BOILOVER! Cripps steals Brownlow from Neale with FINAL vote in wild finish
BROWNLOW TRACKER: Every vote from every game as they’re revealed and live leaderboard
RED CARPET PICTURE SPECIAL: Best images on AFL’s night of nights
CLUB-BY-CLUB VOTES: Every AFL team’s Brownlow Medal 2022 leaderboard
‘I WAS FRIED’: Cripps opens up on brutal low and moment that triggered rise to Brownlow glory
BROWNLOW BREAKDOWN: Bizarre Cripps votes we can’t ignore; leaderboard Eagles won’t want to see
‘FINALLY OFF THE MARK’: Cheeky Swanny tweets the Brownlow
WORTH THE LEGAL FEES! How Blues’ last-ditch appeal won their superstar the Brownlow
“It’s a beautiful moment for us both. I don’t think we’ve ever been so spoiled and felt so really beautiful,” Leckie said.
Laidley added: “It’s been wonderful … it’s just been phenomenal.
“I just said when we came down the stairs ‘we are so grateful and overwhelmed for what you’ve done for us to get here tonight and go enjoy the night of nights’, which we haven’t had for quite a few years.”
