Tara Murray
Former AFL star full forward Brendan Fevola said he can’t wait to take to the field for East Sunbury in the Essendon District Football League division 2 competition.
Fevola stunned local footy pundits when he announced on his radio show, Fifi, Fev and Nick that he would be playing for the Thunder next year.
Having declared he had retired from football many times before, the latest retirement didn’t last long.
It has since been announced that Fevola had signed on for a second season.
Fevola said he hadn’t been that excited to take to the footy field in a long time.
“Floated it with my wife and she said six months ago I would have said no, you’re stupid,” he told Star Weekly.
“I was a bit heavier and I’ve lost a fair bit of weight and I was on a diet. She said this would be so good for you and I’m excited.
“My kids who probably didn’t watch my last grand final I played in, they’ve seen it all before, they’re like can we come and watch.
“My five-year-old Tobi, who hates that she has never seen me play footy, always says I want to see you playing footy.
“She’s pumped. I’m really excited and I don’t think I’ve been that excited for a long time.”
After being approached about playing for East Sunbury, Fevola said he took to Google to find out a bit about the club.
He said what excited him was helping a club that had been struggling and get them back on track.
Fevola said he had met several of his new teammates, while a few mates who he had played footy with over the journey were also joining the Thunder.
“Some really good footballers that are coming across, we’re going to be a competitive side.”
Last time Fevola was in Sunbury was for the Fifi, Fev and Nick’s Brekky in the Burbs show which attracted a big crowd at Club Sunbury.
Fevola said he was hoping to see some more big crowds at John McMahon Reserve as well, with his co-stars keen to watch him in action as well.
“A lot of people have been messaging me on Instagram and a lot of people around Sunbury and East Sunbury are saying they can’t wait to watch,” he said.
“The buzz is real, hopefully we can perform. We are expecting to go pretty well. We brought a bit to Sunbury with Fifi, Fev and Nick, the people were great.
“I think Fifi and Nick team will come out as well, maybe for the first game, that will be huge.
Fevola said he was hoping to kick a few goals for the Thunder but would look to have an impact either way.
“I’m not there to do nothing and if I don’t get a kick I’ll do something stupid.”
Fevola said he signed on for a couple of years to help build a winning culture around the club, and that it can’t just be done in one year.
While pre-season gets underway this month, Fevola said he would hit the track early next year to make sure he’s right for the season.
It’s not just on field he wants to have an impact.
“Hopefully we should get some big crowds,” he said. “I’ll get to the kids training and Auskick and try and do a fair bit of stuff.
“I’ll get there to training on a Thursday, the juniors train a bit earlier and I’ll come down early and it should be good.”
