Pregnant Jordan Ablett praises husband Gary Jr. after Brownlow Medal: 'I was physically exhausted'

Attending a major red carpet event is already daunting enough - let alone when you’re in the exhausting, overwhelming throes of pregnancy.

Ahead of the Brownlow Medal on Monday night, Jordan Ablett, wife of Geelong Cats star Gary Ablett Jr., just wasn’t feeling up to the task.

Writing on Instagram, Jordan - who confirmed she was pregnant with her first child in July - said she was “so ready to crash” just hours before the AFL’s big awards ceremony.

However, having her husband by her side provided all the reassurance the mum-to-be needed to pull on her white J’Aton gown and walk the Crown Palladium red carpet.

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“This man.... so encouraging, so calm and so reassuring. You're always so level headed, composed and your priorities are always in order,” Jordan’s post continued.

“I never see you getting caught up in the world and you always keep things in perspective. You know what matters in life and you know what doesn't. 

WATCH: All the red carpet action from Monday night's Brownlow Medal. (Post continues.)

"How lucky our little one will be to grow up having you as his or her example.”

The Abletts announced their baby news in a post on the website Exclusive Insight in July, explaining they’d kept it to themselves for a few months.

"[We] decided that we wanted to keep it between just the two of us and our families for as long as we could,” they wrote.

LISTEN: The latest episode of our Honey Mums podcast is essential listening for parents and parents-to-be. (Post continues.)

In fact, Jordan didn’t even break the news to her husband right away, opting instead to surprise him with it on his birthday in mid-May. 

After one of Gary’s games, she presented him with a box containing a tiny Michael Jordan-branded onesie, beanie and runners.

WATCH: A behind-the-scenes glimpse at the women of the Brownlows preparing for the red carpet.