AFL star Josh Dunkley announces engagement to Tippah Dwan on New Year’s Day as the netballer shows off her massive diamond ring

by

Josh Dunkley and Tippah Dwan have begun 2026 by marking a new chapter in their lives. 

An Australian Rules Football player and his fiancé, who plays netball, shared news of their engagement on New Year’s Day with a heartwarming post on Instagram.

I was so excited to see the photos of Tippah and her partner, a Brisbane Lions footballer, celebrating their engagement! They looked absolutely radiant together at this gorgeous country estate, and that diamond ring is truly stunning. It’s such a beautiful moment, and the setting was perfect for showing it off.

The couple shared a post with the caption ‘Little update,’ accompanied by a white heart emoji.

The couple was immediately flooded with well wishes from their family and celebrity friends.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always watching what’s happening with our favorite athletes, and it was lovely to see the support flying around after the game! Brisbane Lions player Kai Lohmann quickly congratulated the team, and sports reporter Abbey Holmes echoed the excitement with a super enthusiastic ‘SO GOOD!! Congrats guys!’ It’s great to see that positive energy.

Queensland Firebirds netball player Ruby Bakewell-Doran excitedly congratulated a couple, saying, ‘Oh my gosh, congratulations you two!!!’

Netball player Liz Watson and Olympic swimmer Shayna Jack both congratulated the couple, expressing their excitement with messages like ‘Ahhhhh congratulations’ and ‘Woohoo!!! Congratulations to you both!’

Last year, Josh and Tippah publicly shared the sweet story of how their relationship began, including the moment Josh realized Tippah was the one for him.

Josh, 29, is a vital member of the Brisbane Lions football team, and his partner, Tippah, 26, excels as a netball player for the Queensland Firebirds. They’ve been a couple for more than four years.

Their connection started because Dunkley’s sister, Lara, plays for the Firebirds too. Despite the difficulties of being professional athletes and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, their relationship has continued to grow strong.

The couple initially met when Dunkley was playing for the Western Bulldogs, though they were both in Queensland for a football-related trip at the time.

Dwan said they first connected through Josh’s sister, Lara, when he was in Queensland for football in 2020, and they spent a lot of time together during their breaks from the sport.

‘I thought he was very beautiful but I could also tell he was a lovely boy from the get-go.’

Oh my gosh, it was so unfair! They were totally meant to be, but being so far apart was already hard enough, and then COVID hit! Lockdowns just made everything a million times worse, keeping them from each other. It was heartbreaking to watch, honestly. It felt like the universe was actively trying to keep them apart!

Even though we lived far apart, Tippah explained, we always made an effort to visit each other whenever we could.

‘Even if it was for only a short time, we would make it work to see each other.’ 

Dunkley especially cherishes a thoughtful gift and letter he received from Dwan when he was going through a difficult time, recovering from an injury and feeling isolated.

He explained that during the COVID lockdowns, when they were separated and he was recovering from a shoulder injury, his partner sent him a gift and a heartfelt letter he will always cherish.

Dunkley confessed he fell in love with his partner rapidly, even though they were kept apart during quarantine.

‘After a few months of getting to know each other. I just felt like she was the one,’ he said.

Their story isn’t just filled with romance; it also shows what it’s really like to build a life with someone, including all the everyday moments.

Whether it’s figuring out who handles chores like taking out the trash – a task Dunkley is responsible for – or deciding who does the majority of the housework, they believe open communication and supporting each other are key to their happiness.

According to Dunkley, the key to their happy relationship is simply always being willing to listen to each other, no matter what’s going on.

‘Also allowing the other to live their own life and do things that make them happy.’

Dwan explained that strong relationships involve supporting each other through difficult moments, celebrating the good times together, and prioritizing meaningful time spent as a couple.

Read More

2026-01-01 10:49