Carlton players wrap up Brisbane forward Brendan Fevola. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
The baggage that comes with a player like Brendan Fevola is well-documented, and it is no secret that there is a high chance that some of these issues will raise their head should a club take a risk on him.
He is at the start of a very long journey in getting himself right as he looks to rebuild his life after his axing from Brisbane and his issues with alcohol and gambling.
Casey Scorpions have obviously taken a good look at the upside and seemed happy to use him to further their gate receipts and publicity.
They planned to take him on against the wishes of their affiliate, Melbourne, who fund them to the tune of $250,000 a season, and as soon as an issue reared its head, they want to spend a night reconsidering their position before he officially signs.
Let’s put things into prospective here.
Fevola did not do anything wrong. He is a recovering gambling addict who ventured into Crown for a game in the Poker Room. The Crown counselled him and advised him to leave for his own wellbeing.
Fevola left, on his own volition, without fuss.
You cannot spend a few weeks in rehab and expect all your problems to be solved when you walk out of the door.
These behavioural changes will take months, maybe years to rectify. The shocking admissions on The Footy Show paint a picture that all is not well.
Casey Scorpions should have known this. Any club doing their due diligence would have found this out.
If they back out, it shows their lack of regard with rehabilitating him and that they have put their head in the sand and hoped his on-field exploits would further their own agenda.
Did the hierarchy at Casey seriously believe that a chat with the leadership group was the tonic and, bang, behavioural issues would be solved?
Fevola has had plenty of chances and I am not suggesting that football is obliged to ensure he gets his life back on track.
You cannot fault the approach taken by Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney. They emphatically rejected any association and declared under no circumstance they would take him on.
They have done no harm by rejecting the idea.
As soon as Casey Scorpions took him on and welcomed him to training they took on an obligation to assist him with his rehabilitation.
His personal issues became their issue.
If they were not willing to entertain the idea of a relapse of any kind, they should not have entertained the idea of signing him.
Raising these false hopes does Brendan Fevola no favours as he tries to rebuild his life. This issue transcends football. We’re talking about a human life here.
He is not a pawn to raise gate receipts.
If a VFL club wants the upside that comes with Brendan Fevola, they must also take on the downsides that come with him as he battles alcohol and gambling issues.
Otherwise, allow him to move on with his family and management as they take the steps and ride the bumps to get his life back on track.
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