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.

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Jordan De Goey’s next move.

EXCLUSIVE: Disgraced AFL footballer Jordan De Goey has confirmed he will appear in the next series of Dancing With The Stars once he returns from The USA.

De Goey attracted the attention of the producers of the reality TV show after numerous famous performances on the dance floor.

“Jordan’s a great dancer,” the shows producers confirmed.

“And every time he goes onto a dance floor he makes headlines. That’s why he’s perfect for Dancing With The Stars.”

The producers are referring to two incidents in particular which made the Collingwood star famous. He recently got arrested for assault at a nightclub in New York, and is still awaiting the outcome of an investigation into the incident. He also damaged his hand at a nightclub in St Kilda some years ago. On that occasion, it wasn’t his actions on the dance floor that drew attention, but the fact that he said he damaged his hand playing with his dog, made his coach repeat the lie to the media, then finally admitted to the lie once the truth was revealed.

“That kind of questionable morality and ethics will take Jordan a long way on reality TV,” stressed the producers.

“Let’s not forget, apart from his nightclub antics, he’s also been fined or suspended by the Magpies for incidents such as speeding and driving without a licence.”

“We are certain Jordan will make a great addition to the lineup for DWTS, and our reality show is the perfect next step for the latest disgraced professional footballer. What’s more, Australian women will be beating down the door to be his partner now that he’s been cleared of groping a woman in New York.”

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The Frownlow Medal announces exciting new partnership.

The Frownlow Medal has paired with reality TV shows in order to create a pathway for disgraced former footballers. The exciting initiative begins immediately and formalises an informal relationship that has existed since the inception of the medal in 2015.

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.

Former AFL player Dayne Beams will appear in the upcoming season of Celebrity Big Brother and he is the latest desperate footballer to seek fame and fortune on reality TV. Earlier in 2021, fellow AFL player Heath Shaw, and disgraced NRL star Sam Burgess appeared on SAS Australia.

The Fronwlow Medal is a natural partner of reality TV. Players receive nominations for the medal after an off-field scandal, and many appear on reality TV after a scandal, either to repair their personal brand or to earn some money having destroyed their football careers.

Under the formalised partnership, TV producers will scour the Frownlow website and Instagram account looking for wayward footballers who are desperate enough to become a contestant on one of their shows. Any player who agrees to participate in a show will automatically increase their chances of winning The Frownlow Medal or being inducted into the hall of fame.

Footballers are of particular interest to competitive shows which reward backstabbing, cheating, stealing, lying, conniving, manipulation, betrayal…and an inflated ego. Smart footballers would commit a scandal once on the show to firmly cement their Fronwlow chances and to kill an already battered reputation.

Footballers who have appeared on reality TV shows and been nominated for Frownlow honours in recent years include:

Brian Lake (AFL) – Survivor

Sam Thaiday (NRL) – Parental Guidance, Celebrity Come Dine With Me

Robert ‘Dipper’ Dipierdomenico – Excess Baggage, Celebrity Dog School

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here

Anthony Mundine (NRL)

Barry Hall (AFL) (runner-up)
Brendan Fevola (AFL) – Winner Season Two
Dane Swan (AFL) (runner-up)
Billy Brownless (AFL)
It could also be argued that Frownlow favourite Ben Cousins is himself a reality TV show.

The partnership has prompted another question:

Should appearing on a reality TV show automtically earn a footballer a nomination for The Frownlow Medal or Hall of Fame?

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Dayne Beams does more damage to his personal brand.

As if drug and gambling addictions weren’t enough, former AFL player Dayne Beams will appear on a reality TV show in order to completely destroy his reputation. Beams follows the familiar path of brilliant professional footballer, to drug, gambling and tattoo addict, to contestant on a reality TV show, and nominee for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.

Beams will further destory his personal reputation when he appears on Celebrity Big Brother, just as fellow AFL player Heath Shaw appeared on SAS Australia with disgraced NRL star Sam Burgess. In promotions for the show, Beams reveals a drug and gambling addiction.

Beams recently conceded that addiction to gambling and painkillers forced him to retire from the AFL, despite having two seasons remaining on his contract with the Collingwood Magpies. His admission followed the well-worn path of professional footballer admitting to a drug and gambling addiction caused by mental health issues, and winning praise for his bravery by a compliant mainstream sporting media.

The only difference in the case of Beams is that his father passed away in 2018 and left the midfielder shattered and distraught, and questioning his desire to play professional football.

The best way for Beams and other footballers to overcome mental health issues and deal with severe grief is, apparently, to appear on a reality TV show alongside other C-grade celebrities.

Beams will do his very best to scheme, lie, cheat, deceive and backstab in an attempt to win Celebrity Big Brother, and should use the same tactics to earn induction into The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.

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English brothers attempt to steal a piece of Aussie sporting history.

England’s Burgess brothers could become the first siblings to be inducted into The Fronwlow Medal Hall of Fame in the same year. Sam, Luke and George are all in contention for the award in 2021 after joining 39 professional footballers in committing off-field scandals.

Luke is the big brother of the NRL family and he was nominated for a drunken bar fight in Arizona while on a Rabbitohs pre-season training camp in 2015. Luke and John Sutton were handcuffed and investigated by police after being kicked out of the bar and picking a fight with a bouncer.

George was involved in a road rage incident this year, and received nominations in 2013 for throwing a street sign through a car window, and for somehow appearing naked on a gay porn website.

Meanwhile, Sam is a Frownlow favourite, having earned nominations for either the medal or the hall of fame in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, for incidents including driving offences, social media scandals and allegations of domestic violence.

Earlier this year he was caught driving without a valid NSW licence and using an unregistered vehicle, and allegedly failed a drug test. Some media outlets claim he tested positive for cocaine, and was on his way to pick up his children. Sam is already in the hall of fame.

If the Burgess brothers are successful, they would create history. Andrew and Matthew Johns were both nominated in 2018, but only Andrew was inducted. Even off the field Matthew couldn’t match his brother’s rugby league achievements.

Defending Australia’s honour.

A host of Aussie footballers from the NRL and AFL are doing their best to ensure that a bunch of Englishmen don’t take over the biggest prize in Aussie sport.

Like Father, Like Son

Jamil Hopoate is attempting to join his dad John in the hall of fame. Jamil earned a Wife Beater tattoo this year after being found guilty of assaulting his partner in 2020. He hit his partner to the ground, spat at security guards, threatened to bash them and fled the scene, leaving behind the mother of his nine-month-old child. His partner was taken to hospital, and he was later caught drink-driving. Earlier this year he led police on a chase through Sydney after jumping out of a truck containing $155 million worth of cocaine. These incidents followed a stint in prison for a violent assault outside a Manly pub in 2014.

His father won induction for all manner of controversies, including the infamous finger up the undies of an opposition player. Currently, Jim and Andrew Krakouer of the AFL are the only Father – Son combo in the hall of fame.

This is real

AFL star Heath Shaw once crashed into a parked car while driving drunk and then lied about the incident to the media. He was also suspended from AFL for gambling on matches and detained by police for drunken behaviour in public. He strengthened his bid for Frownlow immortalisation when he and Sam Burgess both appeared on the reality TV show SAS Australia. It’s amazing how many Frownlow nominees appear on reality TV shows.

Have a beer with an alcoholic

Jason Smith flew out of control after his NRL career. The Australia representative confessed to years of alcohol and drug abuse and claims he considered suicide. He was also implicated in the drug supply ring which earned prison sentences for two other former NRL players and Frownlow nominees, Matt Seers and John Touma. His lawyer suggested that his fans could help him get his life back on track by having a beer with him.

A Current Affair

Jake Carlisle can thank A Current Affair for his nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame. Carlisle was filmed by the Channel 9 program snorting cocaine on the same day that he was traded from Essendon To St Kilda in 2015.

The Pollie Puncher.

Chris Tarrant might get into the hall of fame on popularity alone. He did something every Australian has always wanted to do; he punched a politician.

The Skull Smasher

It sounds like the name of a professional wrestler, but it’s the title of a former NRL player. Gideon Gela-Mosby threw away his footy career with the Cowboys after smashing a man’s skull in 2020.

It finally happened

Anthony Mundine is a former NRL player, Boxer, and one of the most controversial athletes in Australia. That said, he didn’t receive a Frownlow nomination until this year, and only because of a bizarre anti-vaccination post on social media.

Who will make it?

Who will be inducted into The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame in 2021? The candidates listed above certainly have a strong chance, but so do other professional footballers, who have until the end of this year to impress Frownlow judges and become part of Australian sporting history.

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Curtis Scott caught on camera.

NRL player Curtis Scott will star in a new reality TV series called The Frownlow Medal: Caught on Camera, after submitting an audition tape in which he allegedly punched a man during a nightclub fight in Canberra.

The CCTV footage Scott sent to Frownlow judges is blurry, but appears to show the Canberra Raiders player punching a man several times. Scott’s supporters claim he broke the man’s nose and caused him concussion, but this is yet to be verified. Police were not involved in the incident and Scott has not been charged, which means he was able to get his hands on the CCTV footage and send it immediately to Frownlow headquarters.

The Frownlow Medal: Caught on Camera will feature footballers in pub fights and street fights, and footballers urinating in public or on police cars, as well as players pooing in other people’s shoes or taking illicit substances. Audiences can also expect to see drunken players dancing naked, plus exclusive footage of former first-grade players inside prison.

Scott is free to play the lead role in the exciting new series as he has played hardly any football in the last two seasons since moving to the Raiders. He missed a large chunk of the 2020 season after serving a suspension for clashing with police on Australia Day. He earned a patriotic nomination for Frownlow honours on that occasion when he was arrested by police who found him asleep under a tree at Moore Park, and claimed he resisted arrest. Scott was in contention to win The Frownlow Medal last year until all of the charges against him were dropped.

Scoring the lead role on a reality TV show is a popular career path for underperforming footballers, and is a path paved by Frownlow nominees such as Beau Ryan. Scott is hoping that his new found fame will help him finally win The Frownlow Medal.

Image: NuNa