No, Brendan Fevola has not been escorted out of Crown Casino again. Instead, he is back training with the pigskin in a bid to resurrect his professional football career.
Despite an extremely successful stint in the Ovens and Murray Football league playing for Yarrawonga where he had a 100 goal season in 2012, Fevola appears set to concentrate on his torpedo in a bid to gain an NFL punting contract for the 2013/14 season.
At 32, age is no barrier at the physically undemanding position where fellow ex-AFL player
Sav Rocca is still punting strongly at the age of 39 for the Washington Redskins.
Rocca currently holds the record as the oldest rookie in NFL history when he was signed at the age of 33.
Fevola stands to make more money in one NFL season than if he plays out his career in country football leagues.
Like successful NFL converts Rocca and Ben Graham, who is coaching Fevola, Brendan possesses the leg strength to succeed in the NFL.
The biggest difficulty to overcome will be consistency in ball drop to continually launch 65 yard (59m) torpedos at will. All while keeping the ball in the air for more than 4.5 seconds.
Throughout his time at Carlton when he was fit, 55 metre drop punts were no problem.
Encouragingly, it was a trait shared by Graham and Rocca.
This will be Fevola’s second attempt to make it in one of the world’s richest leagues.
He made a similar attempt two years ago before opting to resurrect his AFL career via country football.
With the age ceiling of punters in the NFL approximately five years higher than the AFL, his attempt makes sense.
As a rookie punter in the NFL, Fevola could expect approximately $300,000 per season if he is able to win a contract during preseason.
This is the time when teams traditionally bring in a free agent to compete with the previous season’s starter.
At his age and with no college career, Fevola will need to make a name for himself from a series of one year contracts.
A good rookie season could see his rookie salary double the following year if other franchises catch on to him.
Although he has signed on to play the 2013 country football season with Yarrawonga, Fevola would be wise to opt out of his contract, if he is to be in the United States by June to prepare for the NFL preseason which starts in August.
Making such a transition however is far from a certainty in a league which looks down on off-field misbehaviour.
Young players are renowned for spending ridiculous amounts in the most childish of ways.
They often jump from no income in college to six figures in the NFL.
It has become a habit for wide-eyed rookies to spend money on parties, unnecessary team dinners and multiple luxury cars.
Earlier in the week, it was revealed that draft flop quarterback Vince Young took out a seven-figure loan because he wanted to throw himself a birthday party, despite being unemployed at the time.
The loan came with an interest rate of 20%.
Based on Fevola’s past experiences with money, his success in the NFL could lead to some interesting headlines.
Tim
Guest
Not sure about the punt return...Punt returners usually possess blinding speed, think the Big Fev would be a great big target and most likely get seriously hurt trying to return!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Exactly Brewski, the drop kick is long gone, but the torp is still a weapon. When I was a kid I had the WA made Burley footy. Purpose built for the spiral kick! A couple of my mates had Sherrins they'd 'found' near no.3 oval. South Mildura's ground. LOL. I'm off topic again, but I should make the point that, in response to Brandon Marlow's query about limiting NFL involvement to just punting, I doubt Brandon appreciates the fun involved in all players kicking the ball. And marking it! Actually kicking the appropriately named 'football'. Defensive lineman sounds like no fun. God only knows what some of the other roles entail.
Brewski
Guest
If anyone is interested there is a very good book out titled ......... 'The science of Kicking' ...forwarded by David Parkin. Very interesting book that actually describes what is second nature to hundreds of thousand of footballers over the years, and of course kicking is actually quite complex. Everyone can improve their kicking, but as a junior coach, it has always amazed me that some players just seem to be able to kick longer, more acurately and use both feet better than others, the book gives no answer to that :) Easily translateable to rugby, league, Canadian and American football.
Brewski
Guest
Think you nailed that barrel Floyd :) , even kids who will never use a torpie (usually) should they make it to a reasonable high standard league learn how to kick one. See it used at kids footy as well as amatuers quite a bit actually.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Aussie rules players hardly use the spiral or torpedo punt these days, and the American ball is of a different shape & size, and its obviously more about 'hang time' than sheer distance, but even still, I dare say, there would be plenty of Aussie Rules candidates who would've kicked a football with precision thousands of times by the time they reach 25. In some cases, it's their only skill. I can't imagine the NFL punters spending their childhoods playing 'kick to kick' at high school lunchtimes just to see who the best kick is. And the best mark, but thats not the point here. Only Aussie Rules supporters would understand this ritual. Like a well hit golf shot shot, it's all about 'getting on to one!' Why I like Aussie footy.
Brewski
Guest
http://prokickaustralia.com/our-players Plenty of players by the looks of it, and pretty well all of them are Ex Australian footballers, not many big AFL or ex AFL names there, but all learnt to kick playing Aussie rules.
Falcore
Guest
I didn't say failed - I was just paraphrasing from bits and pieces I've picked up on the subject over the years, any roarers who can offer a more informed opinion? Impression that I've gotten is that the practise of investing in active recruitment of older ready-made punters from the afl has lost some of its original novelty gloss and the pendulum has swung back to developing kids from their own system. This isn't to say a guy like fev couldn't move to the us and shop himself round till he gets a hit.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I just dont agree the "Australian experiment" has failed - if you regard Australia as Punter U, then it has three solid professionals and a pro-bowler, as against a couple of washouts. When you're paying nothing in draft picks and just taking camp bodies, that would do me. That said, Im still only hiring punters from Punter U.
micka
Guest
Fev's nowhere near as important to the NFL as Vick agreed but he has also never had gun charges and convictions for organising blood sports attached either. Significantly less risk and a significantly lower profile position so he may be able to swing it. I'm surprised the Aussie experiment has failed, I thought the converts had been almost universally succesful. I'd be surprised if the NFL wanted to reduce the number of proven, mature, ready made players who have had their training paid for by someone else. Its the opposite of the NRL to AFL conversions. We KNOW that AFL players can at least kick a ball. Anything else is a bonus, surely.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Fev to Seattle ? Not no, but Hell No. Trent McKenzie if he got cut by the Suns ? Hell yes.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Because, unlike the AFL, the NFL doesnt give roster exemptions and free cap room to cross-code converts. A player like Mike Pyke is a no-lose bet for an AFL side, as International Rookies dont count against your salary cap or your list limits. Converting, say, Jonathon Thurston to running back, or Buddy Franklin to tight end will probably mean they take 3 years to change their body and learn new skills - so you're giving up a roster slot that could go to finding a new quarterback or something. NFL coaches know Australians have a pretty good strike rate to turn into decent punters - its a low risk bet to bring in one as a UDFA and see how he goes in camp. But other positions ? I dont think you understand the level of raw athleticism NFL players have.
Falcore
Guest
Come now, Vick at the time of his original downfall had a fair bit more to offer a team than fev. But you are right that with the right team behind em, players can get away with all manner of idiocy in the nfl. My understanding, and this is based simply on editorials and opinion pieces I've come across over the years, is that the " Australian experiment" of actively recruiting ready made, professional footballers into a punting role has somewhat run its course. Not that the door is closed, but I think it would require a lot of spruiking by fev and his management to get a look in. I think a combination of age, penchant for foot-in-mouth, and lack of top flight footy in recent years will not exactly help... With that said, the more Aussies in the nfl the better.
micka
Guest
"Making such a transition however is far from a certainty in a league which looks down on off-field misbehaviour." Two words - Michael Vick If the NFL hates an off field indiscretion they absolutely LOVE a tale of redemption. Fev will be fine if he gets a shot. He has enough mass to tackle the odd punt return as well.
Brandon Marlow
Roar Pro
Why do Australian's limit themselves to the depressing position of Punter? Why don;t we here of other Aussies trying their luck in the states as a Running Back or Defensive Lineman (Obviously this isn't including the Australian who is a linesman at college level).
Steve
Guest
I actually think it's his best bet, even if it is a long shot. Don't kid yourself, his 'bad behaviour' is nothing by NFL standards- as long as he can perform on the field, anything goes, and even Fev should be able to hold it together for one or two plays a game, over a 16 game season. Hopefully this isn't one of those times when someone with problems thinks if he moves to a new town/ country, he can make a 'fresh start', without realising he has the same problems when he gets off the plane. If that's the case, actually 'doing well' in America could end up being the worst thing for him.