Brisbane Lions premiership hero Josh Dunkley and Queensland Firebirds netballer Tippah Dwan have kicked off 2026 with a major personal milestone, announcing their engagement to the delight of the sporting world.
A New Year's Celebration
The high-profile sporting couple shared their happy news on January 1, 2026, posting a joint carousel of images to their Instagram accounts. The photos captured an intimate moment, with both Dunkley and Dwan wearing cowboy hats and embracing, while Dwan proudly displayed a significant engagement ring on her finger.
The simple caption, "Little update ?", was met with an immediate flood of congratulations from teammates, rivals, and fans across both codes.
A Love Story Forged in the Hub
The pair's romance began under unique circumstances back in 2020. Dunkley, then a Western Bulldogs player, was based in Queensland's football hub during the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions. It was there he first met Dwan, who was playing netball in the state.
Since moving north, Dunkley's career has soared with the Lions. He joined the club in 2023 and has been a central figure in their back-to-back premiership victories in 2024 and 2025. Combined with his 2016 grand final win with the Bulldogs, he now boasts an impressive three AFL premiership medals.
Dwan, a talented goal attack, returned to the Firebirds for the 2025 season after a brief stint with the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Congratulations and Captaincy Speculation
Lions co-captain Harris Andrews led the tributes online, writing "How good!!! Congrats guys!!". Football presenter Abbey Holmes added, "SO GOOD !!".
The engagement news comes amid significant leadership speculation at the Brisbane Lions. Following Lachie Neale's decision to step down as co-captain on Friday after his public marriage breakdown, a vacancy has opened up alongside Harris Andrews.
Josh Dunkley, who served as vice-captain alongside Hugh McCluggage in 2025, is now widely considered a frontrunner for the promoted role. The club is expected to hold a vote for the new co-captain when players return from their Christmas break next week.
For now, however, the focus for Dunkley and Dwan is firmly on celebrating their future together, marking the start of 2026 with a deeply personal victory.
