Brisbane running out of reasons to keep Fevola
Columnist By Michael DiFabrizio, 9 Sep 2010 Michael DiFabrizio is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, Brendan Fevola, Brisbane Lions, Carlton Blues, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power, Michael Rischitelli, Simon Black
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Brendan Fevola of Brisbane looks on after a loss in the AFL Round 12 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Slattery Images
The Brisbane Lions, like Carlton before them, are starting to lose the battle to justify having Brendan Fevola at their club. Yesterday they suspended the star forward indefinitely pending an investigation into alleged indecent exposure, but the issues with keeping Fev don’t stop there.
The Lions received an official complaint on Tuesday about the alleged incident, which they say took place at a non-club function over the weekend.
Alarmingly, a report on the Herald Sun website suggests Fevola “allegedly exposed himself to a married mother of four after luring her to a car with the promise of a free football for her children.”
Fevola is denying any inappropriate behaviour, it has to be said. The allegations are, at this stage, just that – allegations.
Despite this, however, the Lions were certainly on the front foot yesterday – as were the “extremely concerned” AFL – and it hasn’t taken long for questions to be raised about his future.
The situation for Fev hasn’t been helped by the timing of this story and certain factors beyond his control.
On Tuesday, Michael Rischitelli, one of the players offered up as trade bait in order to snare Fevola, announced he was leaving the Lions for the Gold Coast Suns. Another player affected by the trade, Daniel Bradshaw, left the club not long after a trade deal had been reached, and has been a star (when uninjured) for Sydney this season.
While the Lions are unable to change the past, the cost of Fevola may not stop at losing Rischitelli, Bradshaw and the player eventually traded to the Blues, Lachie Henderson. Especially considering his contract is reportedly back-ended and worth as much as $950,000 in each of the next two seasons.
The Lions are currently facing some salary cap pressure, with Josh Drummond, Simon Black and Luke Power named as players that could be forced out. On Monday, one Melbourne journo even cheekily suggested Fev take a pay cut because of the cap situation.
Other financial considerations, with the club facing a $2 million loss and a cut to football department spending, may also come in to play if any further action is to be taken.
Then, of course, there’s all the off-field issues that Fevola seems unable to escape.
This year, he’s confessed to a gambling addiction and there was the Lara Bingle nude photo story. His record at Carlton before that was long and well documented, right up to that infamous Brownlow Medal night last year, where his drunken antics used up his final warning at his original AFL club.
The other factor that hurts Fev is his troubled season on the field. Despite a groin injury, he kicked 48 goals from 17 games – however he was nowhere near his Coleman Medal-winning form of 2009 or his 99-goal effort in 2008.
All things put together, it’s hard not to think Fev’s career could be coming to an end.
At the very least, he’s now firmly on the same path he was on at Carlton, and every headline is bringing him one step closer to being booted out. Who’s to say he hasn’t played his last game?
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September 9th 2010 @ 6:36pm
Westcoast929406 said | September 9th 2010 @ 6:36pm | Report comment
Perth sports radio is reporting that this incident may have further miles to travel. However it maybe too late anyhow for the Fev.
September 10th 2010 @ 7:47am
Paul J said | September 10th 2010 @ 7:47am | Report comment
Maybe Fev needs a forced lay off…
September 10th 2010 @ 9:05am
Karlos said | September 10th 2010 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Well said Paul. NRL fans have been saying all along that the AFL takes a softly, softly stand on all player indiscretions.
September 10th 2010 @ 4:24pm
beaver fever said | September 10th 2010 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
Well no matter what a AFL player does it appears a NRL player can match it, and possibly top it, what is wrong with these idiots.
http://www.news.com.au/national/new-disgrace-as-rooster-rookies-defecate-in-hotel/story-e6frfkvr-1225917011086
BTW Karlos i post this for you to gander at, you know !!…………… swings & round-a-bouts, karma, no one code has a mortgage on unsavoury incidents, and this is very unsavoury !!!.
September 10th 2010 @ 1:46pm
betty b said | September 10th 2010 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
innocent until proven – give the guy a break. The other indisretions you raise (Bingle and gambling) are all from his Carlton days – not this year. If he’s found guilty then he should be dealt with – no doubt harshly given his record – but please, don’t deal with him until he is proven guilty.
He’s great for the Lions – let us just hope he comes out of this unscathed.
And yes – the AFL are pussy foots when dealing with their player problems.
September 10th 2010 @ 8:23pm
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | September 10th 2010 @ 8:23pm | Report comment
I read yesterday the Victorian Police Stay in the Office with Hands Over Eyes Service is not proceeding with charges on behaviour at last year’s Brownlow because they’d waited too long to do the paperwork and the delay was unfair to the “accusee”.
That stuff was visible live on air, on national TV. Do we deny what our eyes tell us?
I was – well – curious why the paperwork kept finding its way to the bottom of the in tray for a year.
The law with all its much touted due process is not the pristine, virginal, objective environment you wish it to be. Most times it is quite the opposite. The prosecutors, defence lawyers, judges and magistrates decide between themselves who gets to atone and who doesn’t.
All the young mothers considering which sport they’ll place their sons in are somewhat more certain about what their eyes tell them. I’ve seen it with my own daughters – they make up their minds on that which is obvious, without waiting for guidance from a magistrate – if it gets that far, by accident!
September 10th 2010 @ 4:26pm
Anna said | September 10th 2010 @ 4:26pm | Report comment
He can always play league!!!
September 10th 2010 @ 4:32pm
beaver fever said | September 10th 2010 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
Yes, the” reverse Folau”, those 2 words go together really well IMO !!.