Shem Tatupu, who was once on Hawthorn and the Melbourne Storm’s list, has been charged with attempted murder.
The former AFL and NRL rookie was arrested and charged by Victoria Police last month.
The charge is reportedly linked to a family incident and the matter has already been in court.
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The 29-year-old is now set to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a committal mention hearing in August.
Hawthorn recruited Tatupu as a Category B rookie ahead of the 2014 season.
But after 22 games in the VFL and the VFL development league, he walked away from the game in 2016, saying he had lost his passion.
Shem Tatupu in action during a VFL final at Box Hill City Oval in 2015. Credit: Getty He then joined the Melbourne Storm, but later that year was hit by a car.
A few years later, in 2019, he joined the Frankston Dolphins in the VFL.
When he was signed by the Storm, the NRL powerhouse said he was a “potentially exciting prospect (who) possesses excellent athletic abilities”.
“He has grown up with a rugby league background and comes from an outstanding and successful culture at Hawthorn which we know will hold him in good stead at Storm,” the Storm said at the time.
“Shem will spend time with our development coaches in learning the Storm system and will play with one of our feeder teams in the near future allowing him the time to make the transition back to NRL and allow him to develop the necessary skills and physical qualities of rugby league.
“We look forward to how Shem progresses and develops at Melbourne Storm.”
When he was signed by Hawthorn, Tatupu said he liked “to get amongst everything”.
He also talked about using his “big body” and referred to his “speed and agility’’.