The Frownlow Medal

Trent Merrin is under investigation following a controversial drive by which has earned him a nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.

The former NRL player is accused of driving by his own house in a potential breach of an Apprehended Violence Order which was taken out against him by a former partner.

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.

Media outlets are reporting that Merrin allegedly drove past a house he owns and that this violates the condition that he stay 50 metres away from the house he is trying to sell. Merrin apparently denies the allegations or any deliberate attempt to breach the AVO, claiming that he was simply checking the progress of the sale.

The former NSW and Australia representative will face court in June for the latest chapter of a controversial split from his former partner. He has been served with two AVOs following verbal altercations with the woman.

Following retirement, Merrin launched Azure Partners to help other footballers prepare for public scrutiny. The same organisation which still has a link to an interview with former NRL player Curtis Scott after he was found guilty of multiple counts of severe domestic violence against his former partner, made just before he stepped into the boxing ring. The lead calls Scott a “…symbol of resistance and determination…” and promises to tell Scott’s “…untold narrative”

Not only that, the company expects listeners to pay.

That’s right.

“To support our ongoing initiatives in athlete empowerment, the full exclusive interview with Curtis Scott is available for a minimal fee of $3.00. Your contribution goes directly towards fostering a community of athletes who aspire to achieve greatness both on and off the field.”

The website then tells the public that “Your ticket to truth awaits.”

On the organisation’s website, Merrin says,

“We all know or have experienced the terrible mishaps that athletes fall into, including their personal relationships…”

 As well as claiming that service is aimed at…

“Empowering athletes to innovate, create, and disrupt off the field…”

One has to wonder if ‘disrupt off the field’ includes breaching an AVO.

Image: NuNa