Former NRL player Jake Friend has earned yet another nomination for The Frownlow Medal after having a restraining order taken out against him.
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 men’s and women’s 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 Ezra Mam 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.
Police applied for a AVO against the former Sydney Roosters premiership winner, but he has not been charged. The restraining order was taken out on behalf of his long-term partner.
Friend will have the chance to defend himself in court and the prosecution may well mention the previous Frownlow nomination for the former Roosters captain. Friend earned the nomination after a career littered with controversy including drink-driving, assault charges, public intoxication and a prescription drug case.
His lawyers will no doubt mention the fact that Friend is a strong role model who has worked for many years in the Roosters pathways program, moulding young footballers and young men.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 