Footy legend Brendan Fevola swears he has FINALLY retired from the game after winning a grand final alongside four fellow AFL stars
Brendan Fevola has finally retired from Aussie Rules after becoming a highly unlikely marathoner of the sport with a playing career that lasted 34 years after his AFL debut.
The former Carlton and Brisbane forward played his last game for the Diamond Valley Super Rules Football Club in Melbourne’s north-east, winning a grand final to boot.
“After 37 years, I have loved the game so much and it has given me so much more. It’s time to say goodbye. What a way to end with a FLAG. I’m done,” he posted on Instagram.
He also had some useful comrades.
Collingwood premiership hero Dane Swan, West Coast Eagles, North Melbourne and Richmond forward Aaron Edwards, Kangaroos and Gold Coast midfielder Daniel Harris and Carlton defender Anthony Franchina all played in the win.
Fevola scored one goal as the over-35 side won 13.7 (85) to 9.6 (60) against Frankston, wearing the number 25 jersey he wore during his ten years at Carlton.
Fevola smiles with the trophy alongside his daughters Leni and Lulu after winning a grand final in his last game of Aussie Rules
Fevola posted this image after the match, signing off on 37 years in the sport, including 13 years after his AFL retirement in 2010
Fevola had plenty of friends on matchday and won the premiership with former AFL stars Dane Swan (back row, third from right), Aaron Edwards, Daniel Harris and Anthony Franchina
It ends a rollercoaster career for the colorful footy star, who has enjoyed the highs of AFL footy and endured the lows of battling his weight and a crippling gambling addiction.
But he ended his time on the field on his own terms and was happy to finally end it.
‘Thanks Fev. It was great to see you play in AFL Masters National today and over the last few years. You are always welcome back, as you have long since retired. We love having you as part of our family. Thanks mate,” one club member posted.
“Lots of problems,” replied Geelong premiership winner Jeremy Cameron.
Channel Seven presenter and former Hockeyroos star Georgie Parker also posted a cheeky message to Leon Sjögren, the producer of Fevola’s Fox 101.9 radio show Fifi, Fev & Nick.
“Don’t expect much from the big guy tomorrow,” she posted.
‘Liar. You’ll be back,” teased netball turned AFLW star Sharni Layton.
‘Fev’ also had enough courage to play his last game in black and white: the colors of Carlton’s eternal enemy Collingwood.
Fevola had an eventful AFL career, making his debut for Carlton in 1999 and playing 204 first-class games, scoring 623 goals.
While he dominated in the Reserve Grade in 1999 (with 42 goals) before making his AFL debut in the No. 25 Guernsey, made famous by Carlton legend Alex Jesaulenko, Fevola struggled to translate that form to the top flight.
A fresh-faced Fevola smiles at his team portrait ahead of the 2001 season at Carlton
Fevola had hoped to revive his career in Brisbane but played just 17 games for the Lions as he struggled with personal issues.
Fevola with the Michael Tuck Medal for best on ground after the Blues defeated the Eagles in the 2005 AFL Wizard Cup grand final
A series of poor games, poor on-field body language and a number of off-field incidents meant that Carlton had senior coach Wayne Brittain ready to trade or ax Fevola at the end of the 2002 season.
It was fortunate for the Blues that he did not, as Fevola suddenly found rich form that led to him becoming a seven-time leading goalkeeper for the club from 2003 to 2009, a two-time Coleman Medalist in 2006 and 2009, and a three-time All Australian.
However, off-field problems continued to plague the key forward, culminating in him infamously selling his second Coleman Medal to fund his gambling addiction.
It prompted Carlton to pull off the shock trade of him to the Brisbane Lions in 2009.
Fevola played just 17 games for his new team in 2010, spending time in a Brisbane psychiatric clinic and struggling to address his demons.
Fevola was booted out of the AFL system at the end of the 2010 season and would continue playing in lower divisions across the country until 2023, culminating in his big win to cap off his long career.