‘Said I’d play for free’: Fev reveals truth behind shock AFL exit… and why it was ‘best thing for him’

The conversation began with Fifi Box recalling a story about Vogue editor Anna Wintour once walking into a room and firing a bunch of people on the spot.

That led Box to abruptly ask Fevola: “I wonder if you could answer this in front of everyone and everyone listening, how did you get fired from the Lions when they said we no longer want you anymore?”

Now we’re sure this was not a question without notice, but Fevola took the question on the chin and started recalling the story.

“I was up there (with the Lions) for a brief period, signed a three-year contract, lasted one,” he said. “I was in a mental clinic in New Farm. I was just not well.

“First time ever, I got arrested for jaywalking on New Year’s Eve at two in the morning with seven other Brisbane players.

“But I got put in the back of a van, don’t know why, but then they got me on being drunk in a public place on New Year’s Eve. That’s not Australian.

“Then I went to the clink and they put me in there and at six in the morning the coppers knocked on my cell and said ‘your mates are here to get you’.

“I thought thank god, the footy club doesn’t know. Then as I walked out with my manager, there was about 100 media out the front.

“What do you want to do now, my manager said to me, I said I want Chinese.

“So I went down to Chinatown, we had some fried dim sims and beef and black bean, and then they put me in their little Hyundai and drove me straight to New Farm Clinic, checked me in.

“I was supposed to be there for seven days, I was in there for 70.

“And in that period of time I got sacked by Michael Voss, who came into the clinic and told me my services were no longer required.”

The fact media had got wind of the story and were waiting for him outside where he had been locked up meant Fevola had zero chance of keeping the incident private.

To his credit, however, he has spoken about this time in his life a number of times in the past, saying he went to the clinic “to undergo rehabilitation for a range of problems, including depression, alcohol abuse and a gambling addiction”.

The Carlton life member continued his story on radio admitting he begged Voss to reconsider, before ultimately realising it was the best thing for him.

“I was on a fair bit of medication,” he said. “I think I pleaded with him, I might even have said I’d play for free, so I must’ve been drugged up.

“Yeah, that was a bad place to do it, it put me back a few steps, but it was probably the best thing that happened to me too because I got my life in order, so I’ll have to thank him for that.

“If I had kept playing, god knows where I would’ve ended up.

“But it was a blessing in disguise. So it doesn’t matter how you get sacked or where you get sacked, it’s just how you pick yourself up.”

For what it’s worth, we think it’s pretty admirable for Fevola to open up like that on live radio, even if it was set up and a bid for ratings.

Fevola never played in the AFL again, but he did continue his footy career in a wide range of stops, including the VFL and a number of other country footy leagues in Victoria and Tasmania.

He announced his final retirement, we think, in September last year after winning a premiership with the Diamond Valley Superules Football Club in the Victorian Superules League, which is for players aged over 35.

Fevola had previously announced he was stepping away from the sport only to be drawn back into playing with suburban footy clubs, but stated this time it was for real.

“It was my fourth senior grand final and I am done,’’ he said.

“I went out on a premiership. After 37 years of the game I’ve loved so much and has given me so much more.

“It’s time to say goodbye. What a way to finish with a flag. I’m cooked.”