LIAM DURKIN
FOOTBALL
By LIAM DURKIN ROSEDALE welcomed arguably its biggest sporting name since Patrobas on Friday night. Former Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola made the trip to Rosedale Football-Netball Club to regale attendees with stories from his colourful, and at times controversial playing career. While primarily a light hearted talk about the life and times of a high profile AFL player, Fevola also spoke about his mental health battles, as well as his time spent in rehab and efforts to curb his gambling addiction. Such topics were rather fitting given Rosedale FNC’s mental health advocacy in recent years. The Blues hosted a mental health round in 2021, and after Fevola’s speech, he was presented with a Rosedale FNC training shirt by senior football captain Riley Atlee and A Grade netballer Meg Gordyn, both of whom work in the disability sector. Good timing by way of a Rosedale bye in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League meant a good number of patrons were able to attend the talk. Fevola spoke openly about a number of famous and infamous incidents during his time at Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, which spanned more than 200 games and saw him kick more than 600 goals in the 2000’s. The two-time Coleman Medallist laid bare details about his departure from the Blues following drunken antics at the 2009 Brownlow Medal, as well as his friendship with the late Shane Warne. A couple of humorous anecdotes included Warne being given an exemption to smoke on the set of reality television series I’m A Celebrity, as well as offering Hawthorn defender Trent Croad $10,000 to kick the ball to him as Croad was kicking out and Fevola was on 99 goals. Somewhat fittingly, Carlton was playing the Brisbane Lions at the time of the talk, prompting the guest speaker to quip they were playing for the ‘Brendan Fevola Cup’. When asked who the best player he had played with was, Fevola rated Chris Judd at the top of the list. Interestingly, Fevola explained Judd went to the circus to train with performers practising on trampolines to help improve his leap. As for opponents, the key forward said Collingwood’s Simon Prestigiacomo and St Kilda’s Max Hudghton were the two that made him earn his goals the most. The Rosedale trip came a day after Fevola appeared on popular football program The Front Bar. Fevola has some connections to Gippsland, playing one-off games for Traralgon and Lindenow post-AFL. He is also good mates with Trafalgar jockey Jason Maskiell, who he picked up on the way through and brought to Rosedale. With the Rosedale Blues struggling a bit in the early stages of the North Gippsland season, calls of “see you at training Tuesday Fev” came from the front. “I don’t train” came a quick reply from the 42-year-old. Fevola wouldn’t be the first AFL player to suit up for the Blues. Hawthorn premiership player Max Bailey and St Kilda’s Andrew McQualter played in Rosedale’s 2015 senior premiership. Departing the podium, Fevola couldn’t help but smile wryly when it was revealed he was staying in Traralgon on Friday night and the following comment came from the crowd. “See you at Ryan’s.”
