Zaine Cordy gets his 15 minutes.

Zaine Cordy is a good AFL player. Not great. He has played at the highest level for Western Bulldogs and won a premiership in 2016, but he won’t go down as one of the greats. That’s why he is so elated to have earned his 15 minutes of fame and a nomination for The Frownlow Medal.

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 Jarryd Hayne is the most recent recipient.

Cordy chose Mad Monday to grab his 15 minutes, and got so drunk that he was photographed slumped on the wall of the pub in Melbourne before being carried into a taxi by Bulldogs teammates.

Getting drunk at a Mad Monday celebration is mild compared to other actions which have earned Fronwlow nominations, and that is why Cordy will only be famous for 15 minutes.

Once he recovers from his hangover, Cordy still has 4 months to impress judges of The Frownlow Medal, which will be awarded later this year.

Image: NuNa

Steven May and Jake Melksham take their bromance to the screen.

AFL players Steven May and Jake Melksham will star in an undisclosed reality TV show this year after forming football’s latest steamy bromance. The Melbourne teammates had a public tiff and have been promised starring roles in numerous reality TV shows as well as nominations for The Frownlow Medal.

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.

May and Melksham were dining at a Melbourne restaurant when their playful banter escalated into a passionate ‘scuffle’ as their feelings overflowed. News spread quickly and TV producers contacted their agents immediately.

May was suspended for one game by the Demons leadership group, because he was not supposed to be drinking while recovering from an injury, while both players will take part in community service “…to ensure they understand the responsibility and impact they have as role models within the community.”

Like all committed partners, and all professional footballers, May and Melksham are incredibly ‘remorseful’ of their actions and are said to have kissed and made up. In this way they are following the example of other football bromances and Frownlow nominees, such as NRL players Corey Oates and Justin Hodges, Daly Cherry-Evans and Jackson Hastings, James Tedesco and Shannon Wakeman, as well as Rugby players Matt Dunning and Des Tuiavi’i.

The interest of reality show producers indicates the depth of feeling in the scuffle, although it lacks the intrigue of the threesome involving NRL players Jamal Idris, Lee Te Maari and 2019 medallist Ben Barba.

Closer to home, West Coast Eagles teammates Daniel Kerr and Cousins had a famous fist fight in 2002.

The Melbourne veterans are yet to decide on a name for their pairing. They considered MenM but they’re not rappers, so are tossing up M2, MelMay, MaMey and Stemay Jake, and have asked their social media followers to vote on a name. What is certain, however, is that the players will use the TV roles to release a single entitled: “Jake’s Melksham brings all the boys to the yard”

MelMay will find out later this year if they become the first couple to share The Fronwlow Medal, and viewers will find out later this year which reality TV show will feature the streamy bromance.

Image: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Matt Dunning Drops One on His Teammate in Race for Frownlow Honours.

Former Super Rugby player Matt Dunning broke the nose of a teammate in a determined effort to be inducted into The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.

Dunning broke the nose of Waratahs teammate Des Tuiavii in 2003 during a drunken end-of-season celebration at which he was also accused of annoying members of the public.

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. Former NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015 and fellow NRL star Jarryd Hayne is the most recent recipient.

The former Wallaby claimed the incident occurred after he drank too much in order to forget about his ill-advised drop goal attempt which severely damaged the Waratahs chances of victory in the Super Rugby competition.

Sources from within the Waratahs camp, however, revealed the true cause of the scuffle between two gentlemen engaged in The Game They Play in Heaven. Both players had apparently volunteered to collect the next round of drinks from the bar, when the following conversation ensued.

“I insist,” said Dunning.

“No, I insist,” replied Tuiavii.

“No, Sir, you are far too kind.”

“No, please, allow me”

“No, I couldn’t possibly, I simply won’t allow it.”

“Your valour knows no end good Sir, but I implore you to allow me to procure the refreshments for our party…”

‘Whack!’ Dunning punches Tuiavii in the face.

“As I said, I insist”

Image: NuNa

Ben Cousins drags Polo and McGuane into the spotlight.

Ben Cousins is a legend of The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame and his reputation has drawn two former AFL players into contention for Australia’s most prestigious inter-code award. Dean Polo and Luke McGuane earned their nomination after they became involved in a drunken incident in which Cousins punched teammate Daniel Connors outside a Sydney hotel in 2010.

Polo and McGuane received a one-week suspension from Richmond for their part in the incident but of more importance is their nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame, which could see their names listed alongside some of the true greats of Australian football.

For the full list of current nominees for The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame, go to www.instagram.com/thefrownlowmedal/

Image: NuNa

Is Payne Haas a Friday Muslim?

NRL player Payne Haas has confirmed his status as a Friday Muslim via a drunken fight with teammate Albert Kelly.

Haas received a nomination for The Frownlow Medal as well as punishment from the NRL and demonstrated that his religious beliefs are flexible. Haas converted to Islam in 2019 and has since confirmed his status as a Friday Muslim with various off-field scandals which have earned him three Frownlow nominations.

Friday Muslims adhere to the strict rules of their faith only on Fridays, which is the traditional Islamic day of prayer. On this one day of the week, they dress appropriately, abstain from alcohol and other vices and devote themselves to prayer, reflection and the Koran’s teachings of peace and tolerance.

During the rest of the week, Friday Muslims choose whether or not to abide by the rules of their religion. Haas chose to drink alcohol on the day he got into a fight with his Broncos teammate, and forgot about the teachings of peace, forgiveness and tolerance, eventually punching Kelly in the face.

His previous Frownlow nominations were earned for refusing to cooperate with a NRL Integrity Unit investigation. He was also suspended for three games, and fined $50,000, after pleading guilty to intimidating police in Tweed Heads in 2021, for which he was handed a two-year good behaviour bond by NSW Police.

Despite this, Haas declared in a newspaper article in 2020 that ‘Islam is everything.’ He said he understood his status as a role model to his younger siblings, and that he would avoid scandals as a result of converting to Islam. He also observed Ramadan during the NSW Origin camp of 2020. Two years later, he got so drunk recently that he punched his own teammate.

While committing all of these off-field scandals, he has been one of the most dominant props in the game, and one of the youngest, proving that he obviously plays better as a Friday Muslim.

Image: Matt Roberts

Payne Haas vs Marcelo Montoya.

Who wins in a head to head battle between Payne Haas and Marcelo Montoya?

Both NRL players recently earned nominations for The Frownlow Medal for separate incidents and received different punishments.

So, who comes out on top, the prop or the winger?

Let’s examine the incidents.

Warriors winger Montoya called Kyle Feldt a ‘fa//ot’ during a recent game against the North Queensland Cowboys and received a four week suspension for a homophobic slur. Feldt is married with children and there is no suspicion that he is gay. In addition, Feldt has been playing in the NRL for many years, and has played State of Origin for Queensland. He has given and taken sledges before, and has no doubt developed a thick skin. Yet, Montoya claims he was simply trying to get under Feldt’s skin and put him off his game when he used the term. Did it work against such an experienced player?

Also, how many members of the public actually heard Montoya use the word?

Furthermore, if Feldt is not gay, as we can rightly assume, is a homophobic slur actually offensive? Yes, it’s offensive to gay men throughout the world, but is it actually offensive to Feldt?

Haas, meanwhile, received a one week suspension for alcohol-fuelled violence. He got drunk and punched his own teammate, Albert Kelly, in the head during a physical altercation. He was also fined $10,000, despite the fact that he has a record. He received two prior Frownlow nominations; for refusing to cooperate with the NRL Integrity Unit in 2019, and for intimidating police in 2021.

Kelly was also suspended for one week, and fined $5000, for his part in the fight, and is also known to The Frownlow Medal.

Four weeks for a homophobic slur. One week for alcohol fuelled violence.

Image: NuNa

Another bucking Broncos bromance.

Payne Haas and Albert Kelly are the latest Brisbane Broncos to have a public lovers tiff and earn themselves nominations for The Fronwlow Medal.

Haas and Kelly were caught on camera in a drunken brawl at a team hotel recently, and a video of the expletive-laden fight was circulated on social media, prompting a police investigation.

The video appears to show Haas calling Kelly a f***ing c***, while also holding his hand to his throat and delivering a punch to Kelly’s head which would earn him an automatic red card during a game. He then shoves the playmaker in the face in such a way that Kelly would definitely be sent for a HIA.

The passionate bromance brings back memories of Corey Oates and Justin Hodges, who earned Fronwlow nominations in 2017 for a drunken fight while at the Broncos.

Haas and Kelly have both been nominated for Frownlow honours before, increasing their chances of winning the medal this year.

Haas was suspended for four games in 2019 for failing to co-operate with a NRL Integrity Unit investigation, and was banned for three games in 2021 for an altercation with police in Tweed Heads.

Kelly, meanwhile, was nominated for The Fronwlow Medal Hall of Fame in 2016. He was involved in the Cronulla Sharks supplements saga in 2011, and suspended by the Newcastle Knights in 2012 for an incident at a nightclub. He spent a few years playing in England and is trying to revive his NRL career.

Oates and Hodges later kissed and made up. Broncos fans will be hoping their star prop and their half can do the same.

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Andrew Lovett nominated for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.

Former AFL player Andrew Lovett has been nominated for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame following a string of off-field scandals, including an accusation of rape.

Lovett was accused of raping women during a drunken house party in 2009. During the party, a fellow St Kilda player reportedly asked Lovett:

What the f–k is going on with this chick crying at the front door?…Did you chop her?

During the highly-publicised court case, the jury heard that Lovett met the girl at the apartment of teammate Jason Gram and had sex with her after drinking at a pub earlier that night. Lovett maintained that the sex was consensual but the woman argued that it was not.

A friend who was at the apartment claims the alleged victim was too drunk to move, and that she had placed her on the bed in Gram’s room to sober up.

Following the trial, it was discovered that the same night Lovett went home and had sex with a second woman.

The allegations led St Kilda to suspend Lovett indefinitely but he was later acquitted of the charges in 2011.

This was not Lovett’s only contact with the police during his playing career. In 2005 he was charged with driving without a licence and being drunk in public, and in 2006 he was accused of locking his ex-girlfriend in his car and repeatedly beating her.

The allegations of rape at the party involving a number of St Kilda players drew an official statement from the AFL at the time.

Adrian Anderson, the AFL’s general manager of football operations at the time, claimed players now have a much higher level of understanding of their personal responsibilities and accountabilities and around the issue of consent in their dealings with women.

“[There’s] a far greater understanding of their obligation not to be a bystander and if they notice things going wrong, to take steps to intervene and a greater understanding of the dangers inherent in combining alcohol, drugs and sex,” he said, “and a far greater understanding of the societal issue of violence against women.”

Other groups also commented on the incident and its implications, including Carolyn Worth from Centres Against Sexual Assault, who said:

“The footballers need to be clear about their status as role models for young men and women…”

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Nathan Daly Nominated for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.

Former NRL player Nathan Daly has been nominated for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame following his arrest outside a Brisbane casino in 2010.

The former Bronco was accused of causing a public nuisance, alongside Johnathan Thurston, both inside and outside the casino in the early hours of the morning.

Daly will find out later in the year if he has been inducted into The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame alongside some of the greats of Australian football.

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James Tedesco launches $Quid Games.

NRL player James Tedesco has called out professional footballers during the launch of his new reality TV show $Quid Games, which will feature Frownlow nominees whose scandals have cost them at least $10,000.

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 AFL player Elijah Taylor is the most recent recipient.

Tedesco was inspired to create the show after his own recent controversy involving accusations of racial vilification and reference to the South Korean Netflix series Squid Game. The NSW captain was accused of calling out the name of the show at a woman of Asian descent after a night of heavy drinking with teammates. The incident resulted in a $10,000 fine and charges of drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Squid Game is based on a fictional reality TV show which is similar to the shows on which many footballers appear after an off-field scandal destroys their public image. For this reason, Tedesco was motivated to provide yet another opportunity his colleagues to rescue their personal brand.

“It’s like ‘quid’ you know, like the word for money,” he explained during the launch.

“It’s called quid, with a dollar sign, because any player who wants to go on the show has to have committed a scandal for which they were fined at least $10,000, and have at least one nomination for The Frownlow Medal. So, like, it has to be pretty serious, more than just public urination or getting caught with ecstasy.”

The Sydney Roosters star went on to explain that players who have not been fined a minimum of $10,000 could still join other Frownlow nominees in a quinella, trifecta, quadie or ‘$Quid Game Multi’ and combine their fines for a chance to be included in the show.

Once selected, players will be supplied with copious amounts of alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription drugs, sports gambling accounts, smart phones, internet, toilet cubicles, social media accounts, motor vehicles and access to the opposite sex, and be prompted to commit as many disgraceful acts as possible each episode. Fans will then vote for the role model who has committed the greatest scandal, and that player will be crowned the winner.

What does the winner receive?

The most prestigious prize in Australian sport: The Frownlow Medal.

Image: NuNa