Brent Renouf is selling himself short.
The former AFL player claims he was just being drunk one night in 2008, but he did a lot more than that. Renouf vandalised two cars parked outside the Hawthorn Hotel by jumping on the cars and smashing a window.
In doing so, he earned a nomination for the most prestigious inter-code award in Australia.
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. Kiwi international Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015 before Corey Norman in 2016 and Tim Simona in 2017.
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 Julian O’Neill.
Renouf jumped on the roof and bonnet of the cars before smashing the window of one of the cars. The former Port Adelaide and Hawthorn player avoided conviction for the offences after paying compensation to the owners.
When asked to explain his actions, he said he was,
“Just being drunk”
What Renouf is forgetting is that just being drunk is nowhere near enough to earn a place in The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame. It’s barely enough to be nominated. Current Hall of Famers have urinated into their own mouths, set fire to mascots, trafficked drugs and even been guilty of domestic violence, assault and rape, which has landed some of them in jail.
Brent, don’t hide your light under a bushel, or a beer can, if you want to enter the hallowed Hall of Fame.
Image:Nuna
The Frownlow Medal 