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

Justin Sherman’s Racist Slur.

Former AFL player Justin Sherman has been nominated for The Fronwlow Medal Hall of Fame after admitting to a racist slur.

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.

Sherman was playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2011 when he racially vilified a Gold Coast Suns player during a match, and later admitted to the offence.

Sherman was suspended for four matches and made a donation of $5000 to a charity. He also publicly apologised to the player involved and took part in the Bulldogs multicultural and community programs, and volunteered for the Red Dust Role Models program which provides mentoring and support in remote indigenous communities.

Sherman participated in these programs after he was caught racially vilifying a player on the field. This begs the questions:

Would he have participated in these programs if he was not serving a punishment?

Do professional footballers participate in such programs of their own free will, or only when required to by their club’s PR team?

Image: NuNa

Bailey Smith quits AFL.

Bailey Smith has shocked Australia with news that he will quit the AFL to deal with mental health issues following his latest off-field scandal.

Smith was recently punished for appearing in a social media post holding a bag of white powder, and he raised mental health battles when discussing the incident with the media. He has since quit the sport entirely to start a new career.

“I will step aside from the AFL immediately,” Smith announced through a prepared statement.

“I have made this difficult decision for reasons of mental health. My battles with mental health have been well documented, even after my latest off-field scandal and subsequent nomination for The Fronwlow Medal.”

His next career move was as big a shock as his decision to leave the sport.

“I will spend six months of the year as a school teacher and the next six months as a nurse, so that I can gain a more accurate understanding of mental health struggles,” the Western Bulldogs star explained.

“I will teach secondary students, most likely as a PD/H/PE teacher, for the remainder of this year. I chose teaching because I want to learn exactly what mental health struggles look like. I want to experience the constant drain of secondary school teaching in underfunded schools where teachers are overworked and underpaid and constantly under attack from parents and students. I want to understand the mental health strain on people who are vital to the nation but are completely undervalued and often criticised by Australian society, in contrast to footballers who are adored for simply playing a game they love.”

“On a personal note, I want to feel what it’s like to be ignored, teased, criticised or even physically attacked by teenagers, including some who’ll become professional footballers in a few years time. If you’d heard the stories the boys tell in the locker room about their school days, you’d know what I mean.”

Australians were just as shocked to learn that a person with no teaching experience or qualifications could simply walk into a full-time teaching position, but such is the shortage of teachers in Australia – created largely through the mental health strain placed on teachers.

After teaching for six months, Smith then plans to work as a nurse.

“I will work as a nurse for similar reasons,” he outlined.

“I want to truly understand the mental health strain of working an extremely stressful and underpaid job which was made a lot worse during the pandemic, and was bad enough before COVID-19.”

“I want to live through the emotional and psychological strain of caring for sick, injured, scared, smelly, dirty, abused, unstable, violent, dying people on a daily basis without proper remuneration or even adequate personal protection equipment.”

“I also want to be on the other side when a professional footballer abuses drugs or alcohol and has to be saved from themselves.”

Bailey then explained exactly why he had chosen these two careers above any other.

“Above all, I want to know what it’s like to be given gratitude instead of a reasonable wage.”

The nursing and teaching jobs will keep Smith out of the AFL until June 2023. Will the social media darling be back in the AFL, and back into contention for The Fronwlow Medal?

Only time will tell. Or maybe he will be back on the field once he reviews his bank balance.

Image: AAP, James Ross

More details emerge in Bailey Smith saga.

Bailey Smith‘s chances of winning The Frownlow Medal have increased after more details of his off-field behaviour emerged. The AFL star recently earned his first nomination for a controversial social media image but apparently this is not his first scandal.

Smith recently hit the headlines when an image went viral on social media showing him holding a bag of white powder and smiling. It is not clear what is in the bag, and there is no evidence Smith consumed the substance. Since that controversy, more details have emerged which increase his chances of beating the 19 other nominees for The Frownlow Medal in 2022.

The viral image was apparently taken at a party in late 2021, and at the same time another photo was taken showing Smith ‘wiping his nose after leaning over’. The implications are strong, although again nothing has been proven, and perhaps the Western Bulldogs player simply had a cold.

This is not all, however.

At the time the photos were taken, Smith was apparently on a mental health break from AFL, but took that break after an investigation into complaints that he was behaving badly at a Gold Coast club and had to be spoken to by authorities.

Also in 2021, Smith created yet more controversy just moments into his young career. He appeared in another social media video boasting of his intention to pursue temporary connections with various women during a night out with friends, and said so in a way that was in not at all romantic.

The behaviour of a true role model.

The social media star surrounded himself in controversy even earlier in his career when photos of him emerged on the internet apparently naked, or close to naked. Smith was not responsible for the photos, which had been doctored by someone else, but he famously reacted to the scandal by posting an emoji of an eggplant, and his many social media followers know exactly what that means.

Smith and his legion of fans are anxious to know if he will face consequences for his latest scandal, but the most important question is, has he done enough to win The Frownlow Medal?

Image: AAP, James Ross

Kids should copy Bailey Smith.

AFL player Bailey Smith proved he is a great role model for young people after appearing in a viral social media image holding a bag of white powder and earning a nomination for The Frownlow Medal.

Smith is one of the most popular and marketable faces of the AFL and is used in countless promotions for his club and the game of Australian Rules. He’s also not afraid to market himself and has the most social media followers of almost any Australian footballer. In addition, scores of Aussie kids try to grow their hair to emulate his famous flowing blonde mullet and this image appears in advertisements for the AFL and corporations.

The social media image shows Smith holding a small bag of an unknown white powder and smiling at the camera. There is no evidence that Smith in any way touched or consumed the powder, or exactly what is contained in the bag.

Once the AFL complete their investigation into the issue, Smith will find out if he faces any sanctions, and if he is a strong chance of winning the Frownlow in 2022.

The sporting ‘role model’ is no stranger to off field controversy, however. In 2021, he took a break from AFL after a late night police complaint was made against him at a pub on the Gold Coast. Following this incident, he did the inevitable media interview outlining his struggles with mental health. Perhaps the white powder helps him deal with his mental health issues. This incident also strengthens his nomination for this year’s Frownlow.

Smith might lose his title as ‘role model’, at least until the next AFL off-field scandal, but all is not lost. The video proves that he definitely deserves his invitation to the awards night for The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame later this year, where even the most mysterious substances are welcome.

Image: AAP, James Ross

Brennan Stack joins The Frownlow Medal Wife Beaters Club.

Former AFL player Brennan Stack is the latest footballer to join The Fronwlow Medal Wife Beaters Club after pleading guilty to violently assaulting women.

Horrific CCTV footage shows Stack and another man, Shai Martin, attacking two young women in a Perth carpark in March 2022. The women were left with serious injuries and were taken to hospital, while a third woman was also assaulted during the incident.

According to the CCTV footage, Stack is shown punching and hitting one of the women until she passes out. Martin then appears to drag one of the women along the ground by her hair, while both men are seen kicking a woman in the head. One of the women attempts to escape by crawling along the ground, but is seen and prevented from escaping. Reports also indicate that the players stomped on the victims’ heads and threw a bottle at one – at times while the women were unconscious.

Footage indicates that the incident ends when the police arrive.

What started the assault?

Apparently an argument over car doors slamming into one another.

Stack had been a mentor in the AFL community and took up the head coaching role at Nollamara Football Club in 2022, but was removed from the role once news broke of this incident.

The former Western Bulldogs player joins the following professional footballers in The Frownlow Medal Wife Beaters Club:

NRL

Kenny Edwards

Zane Tetevano

Ben Barba

Jake Friend

Anthony Watts

Isaac Gordon

Richie Fa’aoso

Anthony Cherrington

Addin Fonua-Blake

Kirisome Auva’a

Jarryd Hayne

Jamil Hopoate

Joel Romelo

AFL

Elijah Taylor

Nick Stevens

Liam Jurrah

Andrew Lovett

Wayne Carey

Albert Proud

Brennan Stack

Rugby Union

Craig Wells

Image: NuNa

Brennan Stack earns a Wife Beater Tattoo.

Former AFL player Brennan Stack has earned a Wife Beater Tattoo from The Frownlow Medal after pleading guilty to violently assaulting women.

Horrific CCTV footage caught Stack and another man, Shai Martin, attacking two young women in March 2022. The women were left with serious injuries and were taken to hospital, while a third woman was also assaulted during the incident.

Footage indicates that the incident ends when the police arrive.

What started the alleged assault?

Apparently an argument over car doors slamming into one another.

Stack had been a mentor in the AFL community and took up the head coaching role at Nollamara Football Club in 2022, but was removed from the role once news broke of the incident.

The former Western Bulldogs player will receive his Wife Beater Tattoo in prison where he has been remanded in custody before a further trial later in the year. The tattoo will be inked on the arm he used to assault his victims.

Image: NuNa

Brennan Stack nominated for The Fronwlow Medal Hall of Fame.

Former AFL player Brennan Stack has been nominated for The Fronwlow Medal Hall of Fame after being charged with brutally assaulting women in a Peth car park.

Horrific CCTV footage appears to show Stack and another man, Shai Martin, allegedly attacking two young women on March 20. The women were left with serious injuries and were taken to hospital, while a third woman was allegedly assaulted during the incident.

According to the CCTV footage, Stack is allegedly shown punching and hitting one of the women until she passes out. Martin then appears to drag one of the women along the ground by her hair, while both men are seen kicking a woman in the head. One of the women attempts to escape by crawling along the ground, but is seen and prevented from escaping. Reports also indicate that the players stomped on the victims’ heads and threw a bottle at one – at times while the women were unconscious.

Footage indicates that the incident ends when the police arrive.

What started the alleged assault?

Apparently an argument over car doors slamming into one another.

The men have been charged with intentionally causing bodily harm. Stack had been a mentor in the AFL community and took up the head coaching role at Nollamara Football Club in 2022, but was removed from the role once news broke of this incident.

Image: NuNa

The search for Lachie Hunter.

Judges of The Frownlow Medal are frantically searching for AFL player Lachie Hunter so that they can officially serve him with his nomination for the prestigious award. Hunter received his nomination after allegedly smashing into four parked cars while drink driving, and fleeing the scene of the accident.

Police are still investigating the incident to determine Hunter’s guilt or innocence, but the Western Bulldogs Vice-Captain has already had his licence suspended for 12 months, and was fined $1652 for breaching COVID-19 social distancing regulations.

According to reports, Hunter’s SUV was found at the scene of the accident, and alcohol was discovered in the passenger seat. It is believed a friend drove him from the scene of the accident and took him to another house, where he continued drinking. Clearly, Hunter is determined to win The Frownlow Medal in 2020, and he may have a good chance in what could be a quiet year for the award when none of the four codes are able to play for an indefinite period of time.

Hunter will suffer a huge blow to his reputation following this incident, especially after recently being elevated to the position of vice-captain. However, he may suffer greater consequences because one of the cars he allegedly damaged belongs to the parents of his girlfriend. Oooops!

Hunter can now enjoy his self-isolation like many normal people around the world – at home!

Image: NuNa