The Frownlow Medal

Amelia Miller and Nicole McGregor have launched a campaign to have footballers’ wives and girlfriends officially recognised for the work they do off the field to support their men in the pursuit of a place in The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.

Miller cited her scathing social media attack on the ex-partner of her current boyfriend, former AFL player Nick Stevens, as proof that wives and girlfriends can significantly increase the chances of their men being chosen for the Hall of Fame and should thus be appropriately recognised.

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 and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Todd Carney.

Stevens is favoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in October after being found guilty of numerous counts of physical abuse against his former partner. Miller’s subsequent attack on the ex-girlfriend, via social media, has greatly assisted Stevens’ chances. As have the recent actions of Nicole in support of her husband, former NRL player and St George Illawarra Dragons coach, Paul McGregor. Nicole is alleged to have strongly criticised two Dragons at a post-match presentation, in full view of attendant media.

Paul had already been nominated for the Hall of Fame after being caught and fined $10,000 for drink driving. Nicole obviously believed this offence was not severe enough for Paul to be inducted, considering the number of players who have so far been nominated for offences such as ‘wife beating’, drug dealing, assault and public urination.