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Brendan Fevola holds out for the national draft

With the national draft just nine days away, Brendan Fevola is still on the hunt for a new team after being informed by his previous club, Casey, that there won’t be a position for him next year.

Despite kicking nine goals for the Wanderers in the Northern Territory Football League over the weekend, Fevola remains hopeful of being drafted.

However, his chances appear to be diminishing, as no AFL club has reached out to him for training.

According to new Casey Scorpions coach Brett Lovett, Fevola will not be part of the VFL club, despite an impressive second half to last season.

Lovett added that the Scorpions’ AFL affiliate, Melbourne, is focusing on developing its younger players under the guidance of new coach Mark Neeld.

The Demons were frustrated last year when Casey signed Fevola, as it did not allow their key forwards the opportunity to develop in the VFL.

West Adelaide, a SANFL club, has indicated to Fevola that while they’ve had communications about potential play, he is not considered the “right fit.”

“I have been informed that Fev will not be at Casey next year,” Lovett stated.

“I learned this during the interview process. Last year, he was among a few senior players, but the club is now prioritizing development. His was a one-year contract to assist with his rehabilitation and football, but they’ve indicated their intention to focus on younger talent.”

Fevola’s management reported serious interest from a Victorian club during trade week, though the precise nature of that interest remains unclear.

The ex-Carlton and Brisbane Lions forward recognizes that his chances are diminishing, and he is also contemplating a career as an American football punter in the NFL.

Last year, Fevola managed to kick 69 goals in the VFL, even with limited opportunity, and has participated in two recent matches in the NT league.

Scott Turner, West Adelaide’s football manager, confirmed that they recently discussed Fevola, largely due to his connection with current player Brad Fisher.

“No, he won’t be joining us. We had a conversation. While Brad Fisher is already here, Fev is not in our plans at this time. He doesn’t seem to be the right fit for us,” Turner remarked.

There is still a possibility that Fevola could be selected in March if a club maintains an open rookie list spot for him, which would allow him to train during the summer to demonstrate his capabilities.

“We’ll see how things unfold; there’s still quite a bit of time until December, which is when the final draft occurs,” he stated recently.

“With a month and a half or two months to go, there’s still much that could change. Hopefully, this will serve as a solid stepping stone.”

by Buford Balony

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