Former AFL footballers Lachie Keeffe and Tony Armstrong have been nominated for The Frowlow Medal Hall of Fame for appearing naked in Woman’s Day during their playing careers.
Both players sent naked photos of themselves to various women via social media, who then made the images available to the famous magazine,which posted them alongside photos of fellow nominees Dane Swan and Travis Cloke.
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.
A place in the prestigious Hall of Fame was the primary motivation for the players before they sent the photos, but not the only motivation.
“I was trying to do my junior team proud,” said Armstrong, who started playing footy for Burrumbuttock, in southern NSW.
Meanwhile, Keeffe was seeking some reward for all of his hard work in the 2015 off season.
“I spent a lot of money on the clenbuterol and a lot of hours in the gym to try to get this body, so I had to show it off, ” said the young Collingwood player, who was suspended from the AFL as a result of the drug bust.
Both players have time to sculpt their bodies before the next chance to appear in their birthday suit at the Frownlow Medal awards ceremony in October.
First published in August 2016.
Image: Nuna
The Frownlow Medal 