Lions player Brendan Fevola (r) reacts after kicking a spectacular grubber kick goal. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
It was the sight every Carlton supporter never wanted to see, but took just two rounds. In the end, however, Brendan Fevola’s first meeting against former club Carlton meant little to the result. Sure, the ex-Blue spearhead managed to boot three goals in his new side’s 19-point win.
Just seeing him in another club’s colours, particularly against his club of 10 years, must have taken some swallowing by Carlton’s die-hard supporters.
How far the loss of Fevola the player will set the Blues back in the premiership race will be revealed in time.
But hard to watch or not, it was the performance of Fevola’s fellow forward Jonathon Brown that really swung the game in the Lions’ favour.
The Brisbane skipper proved the real matchwinner with seven goals from 19 kicks. He picked up 21 touches in total, with 12 marks and contested possessions.
A task far too great for Carlton defender Brett Thornton, Brown’s goal to stem the tide midway through the third term when Carlton seemed to have the game in its grasp swung the momentum back in Brisbane’s favour.
Fevola endeavoured but was well, and occasionally somewhat illegally, held by Michael Jamison.
Cameras of the game never seemed far from the always-intriguing forward, but seldom got any juice bar the occasional throw of the handbag.
The Blues put up a better fight than many of their critics might have suggested. Industrious but rarely stylish, Carlton took the points in the close contests and was only perhaps thwarted by skill errors.
And Brown.
The addition of Fevola – a more diverse, mobile forward than the departed Daniel Bradshaw – seemed to hand the Lions skipper a freer role.
Brown has never been one to shirk the issue for his club. But maybe the added freedom handed to him by Fevola’s arrival will see him lift another level in 2010.
So while Fevola’s first encounter with his former club hogged the headlines pregame, it will be Brown who will garner them in the aftermath.
After reportedly gagging Fevola from talking to the media last week, Michael Voss sure won’t mind.
So while Blues fans could only watch on as Fevola celebrated a win over his own club, Voss was perhaps the most satisfied man in Queensland last night.
A win, a sterling performance from his captain, and a few less headlines to reflect on would be better than any chocolate egg this Easter.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
"You want your key forward to be a beast."
Things heating up in Canberra!
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
It is time that the tribunal became more simplistic, closed defence loopholes, and became representative of the game that it is trying to serve.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has defended the AFL Tribunal's controversial decision to overturn star forward Charlie Cameron's one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle, as…
There’s a slight disconnect between the data, the record and the eye test for the Brisbane Lions to start season 2024. This week, Champion…
