Crawford to lead again
FORMER Hawthorn captain Shane Crawford will be offered the lead role in a $5 million movie to be filmed in Melbourne.
Titled Love of the Game, Crawford has been earmarked to play a young, champion footballer who is sent to prison after he gets drunk and is involved in a fatal car accident.
The script has been written by local actor Louis Mandylor whose most recent TV appearance was the sitcom My Big Fat Greek Life.
Mandylor, who has appeared in several films, will also direct.
The offer to Crawford comes after Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson told him he doesn’t want his media commitments and profile to affect his football.
Crawford will no longer appear on the The Footy Show’s Bulger MD, but ironically it was his performances in the soapie that caught Mandylor’s eye.
Boxing promoter Peter Maniatis, who will produce the film, said Crawford had received a script.
“Hopefully, we can get started on the film early next year,” he said.
“If Shane accepted the part, it would all be done around his football commitments. We would probably have to film his scenes before the season started.
“He said he wanted to be in it. I think he would make a terrific lead man.
“It was originally decided that Shane would be offered a little role, but when Louis saw his DVD (Hank Bulger), he said he was good enough for the lead role.”
Maniatis said names mentioned for the lead female role included Delta Goodrem, while Paul Mercurio and Paul Cronin could also appear in the film which told the story of a cocky, young footballer who only played for himself and was hated by his teammates. His life changes after his prison term.
DARYL TIMMS — Herald Sun
