What went through the mind of Travis Tuck when he received a third strike under the AFL’s illicit drug policy?
Was he just itching for a good time? Was he aiming to create history, or was he desperate to earn 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 star Talatau Amone 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.
The answer to the question above is a mixture of all three.
Tuck was found unconscious in a car by police in 2010 and was treated for an alleged drug overdose. After being taken to hospital and released, Tuck was not charged by police but was suspected of having consumed GBH, as a small glass jar containing clear liquid was located in his car, along with drug paraphernalia.
He later became the first player sanctioned under the three strike policy and was banned by the AFL for 12 games, thus making history. The AFL outlined in an official statement that Tuck’s drug use was “not recreational” and was the result of clinical depression.
Tuck had landed himself in trouble with two previous off-field incidents, and this is why he is tipped to make further history by being inducted into The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame later this year.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 