Western Force Rugby Union players, Pek Cowan, Dane Hayeltt-Petty and Adam Coleman have achieved the Frownlow Medal’s first ever triple nomination for their involvement in a drunken incident in South Africa.
Cowan, and recent Wallaby debutantes Haylett-Petty and Coleman, broke curfew before fighting and urinating in public areas of a Bloemfontein hotel. As a result, they join the likes of NRL players Julian O’Neill and Todd Carney, who previously showered themselves in Frownlow glory through public urination.
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 players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Todd Carney.
Cowan received the double honour of being stripped of the Force captaincy, while Haylett-Petty suffers the indignity of earning a nomination without actually getting into a real fight. He was reprimanded for play fighting with his own brother and teammate, Ross.
The Force trio are competing against the likes of NRL player Mitchell Pearce, who simulated sex with a dog, for the right to be crowned 2016 Frownlow Medallist. They will find out the result in October.
Dane Haylett-Petty was last heard complaining to his mum that little brother Ross didn’t receive the same punishment for being a naughty boy too.
First published in July 2016.
Image:Nuna
The Frownlow Medal 