Days after having a statue unveiled in his honour, Carlton goalkicking great Brendan Fevola has been added to the club’s Hall of Fame.
One of the AFL’s last great larrikins and a showman, Fevola booted 575 goals in his 187 games at Carlton after being taken at pick 38 in the 1998 draft.
A fan favourite, he was a two-time Coleman Medal winner as the AFL’s leading goalkicker in 2006 and 2009, an award he won at his club seven consecutive times from 2003 to 2009.
Fevola kicked a memorable 99 goals in 2008, falling agonisingly short of a century as his team failed to make the finals.
Last week, he was recognised with a statue in suburban Narre Warren, where he grew up, with the Hall of Fame another nod to his stellar on-field career.
“Brendan is such a figurehead of the sport,” Carlton president Luke Sayers said.
“The way he played with such showmanship, skill and excitement was something that drew so many people, not only to the club, but to follow him even as opposition supporters.
“He was a glorious kick, both in terms of distance and accuracy, and equally so an opportunist, who could fashion a goal out of nothing.”
Fevola left the Blues to join the Brisbane Lions in 2010 amid a slew of off-field issues, including gambling problems.
He lasted just the single season at the Lions and finished his career with 623 goals.
He will be included in the Hall of Fame along with former players Jack Carney and Neil Chandler.
Source Agencies
