Former NRL player Daniel Conn has demonstrated why professional footballers are great role models after throwing a rock through a window and intimidating staff at a gym. The attack in late 2019 earned the Instagram model a conditional release order and a nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.
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.
Conn recently pleaded guilty to destroying property, intimidation and breaching an AVO after throwing a rock through a window of the Hustle Boxing gym in Potts Point last year and for returning to his former workplace despite being told to leave.
Like many wayward footballers and criminals, Conn attempted to blame mental health issues for his wrongdoing and claimed he has attempted to take his own life on three occasions. Conn also claimed that school did not prepare him for life after league because he was sent there just to play football. This may surprise staff at St John’s College, Dubbo.
The former Roosters, Bulldogs and Raiders backrower was also found guilty of faking painkiller prescriptions. In 2008, Conn presented a false prescription for Valium and Tramal at a Gold Coast pharmacy. During the subsequent investigation police discovered that he had used another false prescription the previous year. Conn refused to be interviewed by police and was fined $5000 and ordered to do community service.
As well as appearing in court on numerous occasions, Conn appeared all over social media and on TV. He was the face of the F45 gym franchise and was at one time their global athletic director, and appeared on the Australian edition of the UK reality TV show Geordie Shore, as well as the show Ex On The Beach.
Breaching an AVO, intimidating gym employees and faking drug prescriptions are not normally enough to earn a prized place in The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame, but Conn’s appearance on TWO reality TV shows has raised his chances enormously.
Conn’s next chance to be the centre of attention will be at the awards night for The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame later this year.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 