Chad Fletcher is the latest footballer to pour his heart out to the tabloids and now we know why. He wanted a nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.
Fletcher chose to divulge his secrets to the tabloids, including the time he almost died…in Las Vegas. It worked, and he is now in contention for the biggest prize in Australian sport.
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 former West Coast Eagle revealed all in an interview with WA Today and Channel 7 and said he felt harshly judged for his actions in Vegas. What didn’t stay in Vegas was that he collapsed during a premiership celebration with teammates and that he didn’t actually choke on his own vomit after consuming illicit substances.
He then revealed that he had in fact battled drug issues since retiring from football – but is adamant there were no drugs in his system in Vegas. He also admitted to being caught with cocaine in Sydney in 2010, and of escaping conviction for possession of a bag of blow in the toilets of a nightclub.
But he is adamant there were no drugs in his system in Vegas.
The tabloid media lapped it up, as they have with the stories of other Frownlow nominees, including the grand daddy of The Frownlow Medal, Ben Cousins, who partied with Fletcher in Vegas.
But, all’s well that ends well. The tabloids get their story and a wayward footballer repairs his reputation. Now they can party together at the awards night for The Frownlow Medal and The Fronwlow Medal Hall of Fame, which might be held in Vegas.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 