Get ready Sunshine Coast, Brendan Fevola is coming.
This year’s Coleman medallist will undertake his first training sessions as a Brisbane player when the Lions squad heads to Noosa for a training camp next week.
Noosa Tigers’ Weyba Road base can expect to accommodate a sizeable media scrum when the former Carlton spearhead makes an appearance alongside Lions favourites Jonathan Brown, Simon Black, Luke Power and Coast product Josh Drummond on Wednesday from 4pm-6pm.
At this stage, the Lions are slated to train again on Friday next week at the same time.
Brisbane’s squad will reassemble for their pre-season on Tuesday at the Gabba, where coach Michael Voss will use the day for player meetings and to introduce their long list of new recruits, including Amon Buchanan, Brent Staker, Xavier Clarke and Andrew Raines, to the existing player group.
But Wednesday’s Noosa visit will be their first official pre-season training hitout.
Fevola has kept a low profile since his well-publicised drunken antics at September’s Brownlow Medal ceremony, which led to the Blues giving him his marching orders.
AFL Sunshine Coast regional development manager Mark Kennedy said the presence of Fevola should see a massive crowd lining the ground.
“IT’S great to see quality footballers training as a group, let alone Brendan Fevola,” Kennedy said. “Like him or hate him he’s a prodigious footballing talent and I hope he adds to their group from a football sense and also learns from his experiences and grows as a person.”
While the focus on the 28-year-old will be intense in the short term, Kennedy agrees a move from Melbourne to a less AFL-obsessed base in Queensland will help him as he continues his rehabilitation.
“Initially the media spotlight will be on him because he’s brought it on himself,” Kennedy said. “However, over time things will settle down which will help him assimilate well into the community and find some respite in Queensland.”
Carlton received Lachlan Henderson and Brisbane’s first-round draft pick, number 12, in exchange for Fevola and Carlton’s second-round draft pick, number 27.
Article written by Jon Tuxworth for the Sunshine Coast Daily.
Last Modified on 17/11/2009 18:25