A nostalgic Brendan Fevola has looked back on his AFL career with some regret the day after he was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame.
Speaking on his radio show The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick, Fevola said the Hall of Fame event on Monday was “emotionally draining” and he was “nervous” as he went up the escalators into the Crown Casino’s Palladium Room.
Fevola remarked, “The last time I represented Carlton at one of those functions was the Brownlow,” alluding to the Brownlow Medal ceremony in 2009, when he famously lost control of his alcohol consumption, harassed his star player Chris Judd, and ultimately left his beloved Blues due to the repercussions.
“There was still time to stuff it up because I hadn’t had my Hall of Fame gong when I was going up those stairs,” he remarked.
The 43-year-old gave a moving acceptance speech on Monday, remembering his modest beginnings in the suburb of Narre Warren—where a bronze statue has been erected in his honor—and paying respect to his parents, brother, and wife Alex.
Fevola, who was a fantastic goalkicker for the Blues in his peak, acknowledged that the evening was also a chance for the club to honour his accomplishments and for him to formally bid farewell to supporters.
Fevola acknowledged that his “silly” actions caused his tenure in the AFL and at Carlton to end in a sad and regretful way.
“I left Carlton and didn’t get a send-off, I didn’t get a last game, and I didn’t go to the best-and-fairest because it was right after the (2009) Brownlow because I was such an idiot in my football career,” he added.
“After that, I moved to Brisbane, lost my final game, was fired, was not invited to the B&F, and the AFL never gave me a lap of honour. You know how retired players circle the field for a lap of honour on grand final day? They didn’t want me to do it, therefore I never obtained one.
Consequently, I was never given the same send-off as other players, when they get to talk to their teammates beforehand.
“I was incredibly appreciative that I could perform that act in front of them, as I was never given the opportunity to do so due to my foolish actions in the past.”
I was therefore really emotional.
It felt fantastic to bid everyone farewell and express gratitude, including to my family. That is something I will always remember.
Tuesday, Fevola honoured his mother once more, following his Monday night statement in which he expressed gratitude to his family.
“I guess you don’t really get to see the players’ families, but my mother did quit her job when I was very little,” he remarked.
“She worked in the city and had a great career. I had to travel to training locations, such the Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula, but I was unable to get there.
“Mum wanted me to achieve so much that she resigned her job and ended up working as a toilet cleaner to put food on the table for the family.
“Therefore, the hardships your family endures… Without my parents’ sacrifice of their time and devotion to their children, I never would have been able to pursue a career in football.
During his tenure at Carlton from 1999 to 2009, Fevola scored 575 goals and was awarded the Coleman Medal in 2006 and 2009, which is given to the AFL’s top goalkicker of the year.
From 2003 to 2009, he led Carlton in goalkickering seven times in a row.
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