Footy legend Brendan Fevola vows he has FINALLY retired from football after winning a grand final alongside four other AFL stars
Brendan Fevola has finally retired from Aussie Rules, becoming one of the sport’s most unlikely marathon men with a playing career that spanned 34 years after his AFL debut.
The former Carlton and Brisbane striker played his final game for Diamond Valley Super Rules Football Club in north-east Melbourne, winning a grand final to boot.
“After 37 years, I have loved the sport so much and given myself 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 a few practical friends with him.
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 Francina all contributed to the victory.
Fevola scored as the over-35s won 13.7 (85) to 9.6 (60) against Frankston, wearing the No.25 jumper 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 final Aussie Rules game
Fevola posted this picture after the game, bidding farewell to his 37 years as an athlete, including 13 years after retiring from the AFL in 2010
Fevola had plenty of friends on match day and won the premiership with former AFL stars Dane Swan (back row, third from right), Aaron Edwards, Daniel Harris and Anthony Francina
It marks the end of a rollercoaster career for the colorful football star, who enjoyed the highs of AFL football and endured the lows of struggling with his weight and a crippling gambling addiction.
But he ended his time on the field on his own terms and was happy to finally call it a day.
“Thank you, Fev. It was great to see you today and over the last few years at the AFL Masters National. Since you have been retired for a long time, you are always welcome. We love that you are part of our family. “Thanks buddy,” one club member wrote.
“Many, many problems,” replied Geelong Premier Jeremy Cameron.
Channel Seven presenter and former Hockeyroos star Georgie Parker also posted a cheeky message to Leon Sjogren, 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’re coming back,” netball star-turned-AFLW star Sharni Layton teased.
“Fev” also took plenty of knocks to play his final game in black and white – the colors of Carlton’s perennial foes Collingwood.
Fevola had a colorful AFL career, debuting for Carlton in 1999, playing 204 first-class games and kicking 623 goals.
While he dominated in reserve grade in 1999, kicking 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 into the top flight.
A fresh-faced Fevola smiles for his team portrait ahead of the 2001 season with Carlton
Fevola had hoped to revive his career in Brisbane, but due to personal problems he only played 17 games for the Lions
Fevola received 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 series of off-field incidents had led to Carlton’s senior coach Wayne Brittain being prepared to trade or delist Fevola at the end of the 2002 season.
It was fortunate for the Blues that he didn’t, as Fevola suddenly found strong form that led to him becoming the club’s top goalkeeper seven times from 2003 to 2009, winning the Coleman Medal twice in 2006 and 2009 and a three-time All Australian.
However, off-field problems continued to plague the top striker, culminating in him selling his second Coleman Medal to fund his gambling addiction.
This led Carlton to make the shocking decision to transfer him to the Brisbane Lions in 2009.
Fevola played just 17 games for his new team in 2010, spending time in a Brisbane psychiatric hospital and struggling to cope with his demons.
After retiring from the AFL system at the end of the 2010 season, Fevola played in lower divisions across the country until 2023, culminating with his big win to cap his long career.