David Edwards
NormFevola Out For A Week, But Could Be A Longer Run
July 2nd 2007 14:32
Carlton have started this week taking a hard stance against their recent dismal performances by suspending star full-forward Brendan Fevola for a week after what the club called ‘unacceptable onfield performance’.
The Blues, who are now looking at the back of two successive major drubbings at the hands of Hawthorn (100 points) and last week against Fremantle (by 77 points at Subiaco), are sitting 14th on the ladder and despite looking strong for the first half of the season, there is no doubt that Carlton will not be making the strong push up the ladder that many people anticipated.
Sitting on just four wins for the season, a sense of upheaval and turmoil has now engulfed the club. Now it seems that the first person who has the biggest question mark over the head going into ‘08 is the resident bad boy of the Carlton Blues, Fevola.
Carlton announced today that Brendan Fevola has been suspended from the squad after his performance against the Dockers on Saturday. His usual dominance in front of goals was non existent, kicking only one goal, and was very temperamental towards other players, including arguing with the umpires to give away two successive 50-metre penalties. Chief executive Greg Swann has stated that the club are very disappointed with his recent performances, and that he has suspended to “think about about his role at the club and his role with the team.”
There is no doubt that ‘Big Fev’ has always been a big threat for the Blues. Whilst on the field, and when he is on fire, he can easily be the toughest and hardest players to beat. However, it is all the other factors that he brings that cause him to be such a headache.
First of all, Fevola has a temper that matches his unbelievable talent. He has been involved in many fights, both on and off the field, and arguing with other players (either opponents or teammates) and even the umpires. Secondly, when Fevola is on fire, there are few defenders who can stop him in his tracks, but the biggest problem with his game is the fact that it turns off and on faster than the rain in Melbourne.
Now that Carlton have made a stance against Fevola, there are two paths that are about to unfold. He will either take this week to really plot out his future with the club, and strive hard for the rest of the season to be the best team player possible. The second option (and from his past instances the more likely) is that this suspension will be taken as a slap in the face for one of the most talented players on the squad list, and it will spell out the end of his long successful career with the Blues.
At the moment Fevola has now become the number one trade bait during trade week. Four clubs have already been toted as picking him up for next season (Western Bulldogs, Adelaide, Kangaroos and even the Eagles could look at him as a forward prospect), but after his attention grabbing antics both on and off the field, will many teams consider that risk? There is no doubt that he could be useful for any squad, but the potential of his attitude and character upsetting a settled team balance.
Whilst it has been proven that a change of scenery has given many bad boys of the league a new lease on their careers, Fevola could be a completely different scenario. After this season, there is undoubtedly going to be a major crackdown on how players act both on and off the field from now on, with even bigger fines and suspensions handed down from the clubs and the league. A player like Fevola is a timebomb just waiting to explode, and at this time it might be unwise for any squad to take a risk with him.
In the end though, his talent and abilities on the field might be all that any side needs to bolster a potential finals squad. Fevola has the potential figure for the Carlton Blues to request a massive trade spot (hence a first round position) this year. However, first of all the Blues will have to consider when enough is too much for one player that has given their side some of the most memorable wins in the past decade, and if they will need to cut their losses with such a volitile player to help giving their club a fighting chance in the near future?
Until next time, sports minds.
The Blues, who are now looking at the back of two successive major drubbings at the hands of Hawthorn (100 points) and last week against Fremantle (by 77 points at Subiaco), are sitting 14th on the ladder and despite looking strong for the first half of the season, there is no doubt that Carlton will not be making the strong push up the ladder that many people anticipated.
Sitting on just four wins for the season, a sense of upheaval and turmoil has now engulfed the club. Now it seems that the first person who has the biggest question mark over the head going into ‘08 is the resident bad boy of the Carlton Blues, Fevola.
Carlton announced today that Brendan Fevola has been suspended from the squad after his performance against the Dockers on Saturday. His usual dominance in front of goals was non existent, kicking only one goal, and was very temperamental towards other players, including arguing with the umpires to give away two successive 50-metre penalties. Chief executive Greg Swann has stated that the club are very disappointed with his recent performances, and that he has suspended to “think about about his role at the club and his role with the team.”
There is no doubt that ‘Big Fev’ has always been a big threat for the Blues. Whilst on the field, and when he is on fire, he can easily be the toughest and hardest players to beat. However, it is all the other factors that he brings that cause him to be such a headache.
First of all, Fevola has a temper that matches his unbelievable talent. He has been involved in many fights, both on and off the field, and arguing with other players (either opponents or teammates) and even the umpires. Secondly, when Fevola is on fire, there are few defenders who can stop him in his tracks, but the biggest problem with his game is the fact that it turns off and on faster than the rain in Melbourne.
Now that Carlton have made a stance against Fevola, there are two paths that are about to unfold. He will either take this week to really plot out his future with the club, and strive hard for the rest of the season to be the best team player possible. The second option (and from his past instances the more likely) is that this suspension will be taken as a slap in the face for one of the most talented players on the squad list, and it will spell out the end of his long successful career with the Blues.
At the moment Fevola has now become the number one trade bait during trade week. Four clubs have already been toted as picking him up for next season (Western Bulldogs, Adelaide, Kangaroos and even the Eagles could look at him as a forward prospect), but after his attention grabbing antics both on and off the field, will many teams consider that risk? There is no doubt that he could be useful for any squad, but the potential of his attitude and character upsetting a settled team balance.
Whilst it has been proven that a change of scenery has given many bad boys of the league a new lease on their careers, Fevola could be a completely different scenario. After this season, there is undoubtedly going to be a major crackdown on how players act both on and off the field from now on, with even bigger fines and suspensions handed down from the clubs and the league. A player like Fevola is a timebomb just waiting to explode, and at this time it might be unwise for any squad to take a risk with him.
In the end though, his talent and abilities on the field might be all that any side needs to bolster a potential finals squad. Fevola has the potential figure for the Carlton Blues to request a massive trade spot (hence a first round position) this year. However, first of all the Blues will have to consider when enough is too much for one player that has given their side some of the most memorable wins in the past decade, and if they will need to cut their losses with such a volitile player to help giving their club a fighting chance in the near future?
Until next time, sports minds.
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