Brownlow glamour caps top year
The West Coast Eagles may have narrowly missed the AFL finals but for young gun Jack Darling, 2014 has been an unforgettable year.
The 22-year-old proposed to his girlfriend Courtney Braham last month, just days after signing a contract extension with the club.
To top it off, Ms Braham, 25, has just graduated with her physiotherapy degree and the couple are preparing to go on a five-week European holiday next month.
Before that, they will attend their first Brownlow Medal count together on Monday night alongside a handful of other West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers players and their partners.
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Ms Braham's dress has been designed by a close friend of 20 years, Perth couture designer Lisa Motherway, who was still putting the finishing touches to the gown yesterday.
"It's really special to do this together, we've been in each other's lives for ever," Ms Braham said.
Ms Motherway has created several gowns for her friend before and was coy about the Brownlow design, except to say it involved Parisian lace.
Darling revealed the planning that went into his proposal, which involved him sourcing a diamond and helping to design the ring.
He took his partner of more than two years on their regular walk around a nearby lake with their dog Bailey before getting down on one knee.
He said he was looking forward to time off with his fiancee before what he predicted would be a big 2015 for the Eagles.
"It's been a good year. I'm excited. Life's going pretty good, locking down the contract and (proposing to) Courtney, so hopefully next year the performance on the field is better because everything around me is settled," he said.
