up a formal system for recruiting promising young Irish Gaelic footballers for AFL teams. The plan was criticised by many Gaelic football officials and players, including Sydney's Tadhg Kennelly. Some consider that the campaign, which included screening camps in Ireland in August 2008, will result in a talent drain from Ireland to Australia, something that Nixon refutes. Controversy and loss of accreditation Nixon was deeply affected by the death of his longtime friend Clinton Grybas in January 2008, and subsequently lapsed into drug and alcohol addiction. In an interview with News.com.au, Nixon stated that "(After Grybas’ death) I started drinking, I had never done drugs in my life. I started doing cocaine, and I got addicted." In 2009, Nixon received a drink driving charge when he left the scene of an accident that he was involved in. On 19 February 2011, it was claimed by a number of press agencies that Nixon had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl. The girl had previously been embroiled in a series of controversies involving players from the St Kilda Football Club, including one of Nixon's major clients, Nick Riewoldt. Nixon admitted to visiting the girl at her hotel room on at least three occasions and providing her with alcohol. The girl characterised the relationship as an "affair" and indicated that she was unaware at the time that Nixon was married. Nixon fled Australia for London following the incident. He described an incident in which he pondered suicide while in England, but was talked out of it by former St. Kilda President Rod Butterss, who encouraged him to return to Australia. He was given a two-year suspension by the AFL Players' Association Accreditation Board, on 18 March 2011. Following the loss of his accreditation, Nixon entered negotiations to sell his agency, Flying Start. Former Richmond Football Club president Clinton Casey purchased the agency for $900,000. In July 2012 Nixon was charged with five offences following an alleged assault. In March 2013 Nixon pleaded guilty to charges of assault against his former fiancée and attempting to flee the police. He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service. In May 2013 Nixon was pulled over by police for speaking on his mobile phone while driving; he was found to also be driving while intoxicated and with a suspended licence. In 2013, Nixon launched a stand-up comedy routine titled "Chicken Train", and announced plans to