NRL player Dylan Walker has been nominated for The Frownlow Medal for the third time in his career after being arrested and charged with domestic violence.
Walker was recently taken into police custody following allegations of domestic violence against his partner, who has reportedly requested an apprehended violence order against him. The former Australian representative now joins a select club of players to have been nominated for The Frownlow Medal in three separate seasons.
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, while Karmichael Hunt is the most recent recipient.
Walker received his first nomination for misuse of prescription medication in 2016. He then reminded the Frownlow judges of his talents when he damaged his hand after punching the door of his own apartment, an action which forced him to miss four games and pay a fine of $10000 to the Sea Eagles. The former State of Origin player was also accused of involvement in a bar brawl in Thailand.
Walker’s nomination comes just a few days after Jacob Saifiti earned the first nomination for 2019 when he broke his leg in a pub fight. It seems that NRL players are determined to retain the award that has been theirs since its inception in 2015.
Walker must await the verdict of police and the courts regarding his domestic violence charges, and will also have to wait for the judges of The Frownlow Medal to make their final decision in late 2019.
Image: Nuna
The Frownlow Medal 