Former AFL player Daniel Kerr claims that passing out drunk in the street in Kalgoorlie was just a bit of fun, but his second nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame is dead serious.
The West Coast Eagles hero was found by a member of the public asleep on the street in the outback town after what he described as a harmless night out with his mates. He was assessed by police and later released.
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. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL player Ben Barba is the most recent recipient.
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.
Kerr was far more serious when he spoke of his second nomination for the most prestigious award in Australian sport.
“I got my first nomination in 2016, with my Dad,” he explained.
“We didn’t get inducted into the hall of fame, even though we did stuff like forging prescriptions, setting a house on fire, assault, alcohol abuse and even getting in a fight with Ben Cousins. We were ripped off – and I reckon I should be inducted this year.”
Kerr is determined to right the wrongs of the past and see himself in the hall of fame alongside players such as Cousins and Brendan Fevola, and this is why he travelled all the way to the remote mining town to get on the booze with his mates. Passing out in the main street was a statement that Kerr is serious about attracting the attention of Frownlow judges yet again.
The former Eagle is seeking glory, but also a free lifetime pass to the awards ceremony for The Frownlow Medal and the hall of fame, at which inductees are given free food and drink, and any other substances they can acquire.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 