The Brendan Fevola show will make a final stop in Queensland to round out his guest playing appearances for 2016.
After guest appearances for Frankston Bombers (Mornington Peninsula), Doveton (South East) and Hurstbridge (Northern), interwoven amongst his regular playing duties with Deer Park, the former Carlton and Brisbane Lions spearhead will turn out for Coolangatta on the Gold Coast later this month.
Fevola has agreed to don the navy blue of Coolangatta in the Queensland Football Association (QFA) South for their clash against Coorparoo Kings at the Blues home ground, Len Peak Oval on Sunday, 26th June.
Fevola, who kicked 623 goals during his 204 AFL game career, has enjoyed plenty of success during his post AFL career, playing in premierships with Yarrawonga in the strong Victorian country Ovens and Murray league, and in 2016 has joined Deer Park in the Western Region Football League.
Fevola has previously played one-off matches for several local clubs around the country, including Tasmanian club New Norfolk 2012 where a record home crowd was in attendance for the club and kicked 18 goals to set a new club record. He returned for another game in 2013, this time kicking 16 goals.
Fevola’s appearance for Coolangatta will be his first match in Queensland since 2010 when he departed the Brisbane Lions.
Coolangatta enjoyed a successful period at the start of the new millennium, winning premierships in 2001 and 2003, but have found the going tough recently, having not tasted finals action since 2006.
Things are starting to turn around for the Blues, with record junior participation, and the raging success of the womens side, the Coolangatta Bluebirds, who have had no less than six players represent the Queensland women’s team.
Under the tutelage of former junior player and senior coach AJ Williams, president Howard Battye and a new look committee, and the recent addition of former Hawthorn and renowned Queensland football identity Brian Douge, the foundations are in place to return the Blues to their former glory.
Battye says the playing appearance of Fevola is a chance to put the Blues on the map and bring them some much needed publicity.
“It’s obviously a great fillip for the club,” said Battye.
“With the Suns playing in Tasmania on that weekend, and the other local competition games being played on Saturday, we have taken the initiative and moved the game to Sunday to try and maximise the attendance.”
“It would be fantastic if the rain could stay away and we could attract a big crowd and atmosphere, Fev kicks a bag of goals, and obviously we can get the win.”
The Blues are no strangers to having an ex AFL star making a guest playing appearance, with Brownlow Medallist and Lions triple premiership player Jason Akermanis making a cameo for the Blues in 2011 against their local rivals, Palm Beach Currumbin, which drew a tremendous amount of interest.
Coolangatta have been much more competitive in 2016 than 2015, and Williams believes their 1-7 start to the season is not a true indication of how the the Blues are travelling.
“We have been generating plenty of forward entries, but not finishing off our work,” said Williams.
“I can’t question the boys effort, we just need to lock the ball inside 50 and not allow such easy rebound.”
“I am confident our hard work will reap rewards, and we will establish a winning culture within the club sooner rather than later.”
By Leigh Philpot
