Judges are asking the Australian sporting community to help them decide whether Kieran Foran’s recent hospitalisation warrants nomination for The Frownlow Medal.
The committee took to every footballer’s second home, social media, to pose the question after the New Zealand and Parramatta half misused prescription medication.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes; the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. The first medal was awarded to Sydney Roosters and New Zealand representative Shaun Kenny-Dowall in 2015.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players who receive media attention for similarly scandalous behaviour and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Todd Carney.
“Before making a decision, we will monitor the feedback on social media in order to gauge whether the action is befitting of a nomination for this award,” declared the committee.
“A precedent has been established in this area following the nomination of South Sydney pair Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray for their involvement in an incident concerning prescription medication late in 2015. However, their actions appear to be more severe than those of Mr. Foran.
We must also weigh up the actions against Kieran’s compatriots who were stood down from the Warriors and national teams for allegedly mixing prescription drugs and energy drinks.”
The committee must also decide whether Foran’s actions are as noteworthy as those which have earned nominations or awards in the past, such as simulating sex with a dog or urinating into one’s own mouth.
The decision must also be made within the wider societal context, explained the judges.
“We have also been monitoring mainstream media, now and for the last few years, and read statistics from organisations such as the Australian Medical Association, which indicate that misuse of prescription medication among Australians is a ‘national emergency’.
First published May 2016.
Image: Nuna
The Frownlow Medal 