Ricky Nixon cops a beating for his small-screen debut

Ricky Nixon has copped a beating in Port Melbourne, but it’s all part of the former footy agent’s latest career move.

Many have tried and failed to flatten Ricky Nixon, but he’s now literally hitting the deck in his latest career move.

The former footy player agent and serial headline grabber has started stunt training for his small screen debut.

In crime TV series Vendetta 19 Nixon plays amputee gangster Thomas Moran.

At Port Melbourne beach Nixon was put to the test by fellow cast member, Terry Yeboah, with direction from Breanna Bulfone, the daughter of famous wrestler Mario Milano.

“It was more full on than I thought,’’ Nixon said.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge. We certainly attracted a lot of interest down at Port Melbourne beach.”

Ricky Nixon rehearsing for fight scenes in Vendetta 19. Picture: Tony Gough

Nixon will play the role of an amputee gangster. Picture: Tony Gough

The pilot episode will be filmed throughout June. Picture: Tony Gough

In Vendetta 19 the legend of Squizzy Taylor comes to life in the screenplay by one of Australia’s most prolific true crime authors Roy Maloy.

It presents the narrative of the 1919 gangland war that came to be known as the Fitzroy Vendetta.

Moran, known as “Tommy the Nut” and who is believed to have family links to the infamous Moran brothers of the 1990s, was a member of the Crutchy Push, a gang of men with missing limbs who terrorised parts of Melbourne at the dawn of the 20th century.

The series will follow the Crutchy Push rivalry with notorious gangster Taylor inside Pentridge Prison in 1908.

Among the cast are Olympic runner Tyson Popplestone, Aboriginal artist Matt Chilly and Nixon.

The pilot episode will be filmed through June and pitched to streaming services for a release in October.