Richmond premiership stars Dion Prestia and Nathan Broad were farewelled at Jack Dyer Medal event held at Crown on Tuesday night, marking the start of the best and fairest season.
Farewells for Premiership Veterans Prestia and Broad
Dion Prestia arrived on the yellow and black carpet alongside his partner Brooke Bailey, who wore a rouged white gown with sparkling diamonds. “We drove here tonight, it’s nice to have a celebration for Dion,” Bailey said. Meanwhile, Nathan Broad and his wife Tayla prepared for an upcoming relocation to Perth scheduled for Saturday. Tayla Broad noted they were expecting their second child in December and spent recent days “packing shipping containers in between getting ready.” Broad attended the event wearing sensible flat shoes after learning a lesson with leg cramps from heels at the Brownlow, according to the sources.
Paris Elopement and Solo Attendance Among Players
Newlyweds Jacob and Liv Hopper brought a Paris glow to the evening following their September 4 wedding in France. The couple eloped in front of the Louvre with only immediate family present, later honeymooning in the South of France, Sicily, and Sardinia. “Eventually we’ll have a big party with friends and family,” Liv Hopper stated. Forward and new dad Tom Lynch attended the event solo while his wife Olivia stayed home with their newborn daughter Kennedy. “She’s going great,” Lynch said of his daughter, adding that the timing “worked out perfectly.” Tash Hoole wore a cut-out gown alongside her fiancé Tim Taranto, who went for his own three peat of Jack Dyer Medals ahead of their scheduled November wedding next year.
Event Schedule and Award Categories
The 2026 Jack Dyer Medal was broadcast live on the Richmond website and app from 7:00 pm AEST, hosted by three-time premiership great Jack Riewoldt at the Crown Palladium. Proceedings began with addresses from President John O’Rourke and Senior Coach Adem Yze, followed by VFL awards, fan choice announcements, and retrospective highlights from the AFL season. The voting system assessed each player’s offensive, defensive, and contest impacts on a scale from 0 to 5 via joint match committee decisions. Named medals for the event include the Kevin Bartlett Medal for second place, the Roy Wright Medal for third place, the Trent Cotchin Medal for fourth place, the Jack Titus Medal for fifth place, and the Francis Bourke Award recognizing player culture and club values.
Details of the 2026 Jack Dyer Medal event
Where was the 2026 Jack Dyer Medal held?
The event took place at the Crown Palladium on Tuesday night.
Who hosted the Richmond best and fairest event?
Three-time premiership great Jack Riewoldt hosted the evening’s proceedings.
What is the voting system for the Jack Dyer Medal?
The match committee awards players a rating between 0 and 5 based on overall performance, assessing offensive, defensive, and contest impacts without allocating votes for below-average games.
Which prominent players were farewelled at the event?
Richmond premiership stars Dion Prestia and Nathan Broad were farewelled ahead of Broad’s relocation to Perth.
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