Brendan Fevola is making yet another comeback to footy, signing with Essendon District Football League outfit, East Sunbury.
Since his 204-game, 623-goal AFL career ended, Fevola has played for a host of local clubs around Victoria, including a season in which he played for a new team every week in what was effectively a tour of exhibition matches.
He most famously played for Ovens and Murray powerhouse Yarrawonga in country Victoria between 2012 and 2015, twice kicking over 100 goals, and often credits the club with turning his life around after it spiralled during his time in Brisbane.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
But the 43-year-old, who will be 44 next January, has not played a full season of open-age competitive footy since 2022, when he played with Southern League club, St Kilda City — albeit he has played over 35s Super Rules since then.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve played proper footy. I do play super rules for Diamond Valley, which is old man’s footy — it’s over-35s, different rules, you don’t really get hurt,” he said on Fox FM on Friday.
“But I haven’t played competitive footy, proper footy — against 20-year-olds, 18-year-olds, 25-year-olds — in a proper league since St Kilda City, which would have been nearly three or four years ago.
“And I know I’ve said I retired and I’m not coming back … (but) at the ripe old age of 43 — it’s very old, and by the time the footy season starts next year, I’ll be 44, so that’s old man status, I’m nearly in the over-45s, which is the next level up from the supers — I’m back. I am playing footy.
“I have signed at a footy club for a full season, 16 games. Training, got to train on Thursdays. I am back.”
Fevola did play a one-off game for Heidelberg West in the Northern Football Netball League this year and kicked six goals.
The Carlton and Brisbane goalkicking champion will have to drive nearly 90 minutes to get out to his new home ground, but says he has committed to being at training every Thursday.
“I said to myself and my family, if I ever play footy, I’ll play around the area, like around Hampton area, so I don’t have to drive. Because I’ve never really played metro sort of footy,” Fevola said.
“AFL obviously, because the MCG was the old office. But local footy, I’ve always played out in the burbs, and we love the burbs.
“I will be playing next year, I will be donning the jumper of East Sunbury. It’s about an hour and 17 minutes from my house.
“Adam, who contacted me from the East Sunbury footy club, he said where it was, and I instantly went to the maps, and I go, ‘Bro — hike’. And then he sent me a message at about 7.30 at night when there was no traffic, and he goes, ‘Nah, it’s under an hour!’
“I’ll be there Thursday, I have committed.”
The Thunder lost every game in the EDFL’s bottom division in 2024, finishing five wins below Glenroy who were eighth, with a dismal percentage of 27.58.
The closest they got to a win was a 20-point loss to Sunbury in Round 2, but they didn’t get within 52 points in any other game for the season.
Fevola said he wants to take them “to the top”.
“The reason he contacted me — they struggled last year, and I think the year before. They were 0-16, they didn’t win a game last year, so it’s all up (from here). So, if I go there, we win one game, job done, I can retire again,” he added.
“I’m going to play a full season, I’m trying to get a few old teammates to come along with me, but I haven’t heard back from anyone yet.
“I’m like John Farnham — I just keep coming back. I am back playing footy, I’ll be playing every Saturday for East Sunbury, I have signed the dotted line so I can’t turn back now, and I’ll be driving out there on Thursdays.
“You guys might be able to come and do like a bit of a breaky in the burbs out there.”
Fevola’s co-host Fifi Box was sceptical whether Fevola would get out to training at all, let alone every Thursday night.
He played for Melton South five years ago and didn’t train at all.
But he says he will be there.
“When you say it like that, it does sound like it’s a bad decision, but I’m 43, I’ll be 44 (next year) — once you retire from footy, and people know this, you’re done forever,” Fevola said.
“And I played last year, and I’ve lost a little bit of weight … and now I’m looking like I can go again. I played last year and I kicked like 12 goals, man — I’m on.
“I’ll probably have Mondays off because I’ll be recovering.
“I know it’s a long way away, but Round 1, I’d love for you guys to come out and watch me in my last dance. I think they’re going to do a Netflix documentary on it, like Michael Jordan.”
East Sunbury also announced the news on Instagram.
“The East Sunbury Football Club are over the moon to announce our next HUGE signing!” they wrote.
“With a stellar career at AFL level and grassroots footy and booting over 600 goals at Carlton and Brisbane, this player needs no further introduction.
“The one… the only… Brendan Fevola has committed to the club for the 2025 season. The club is excited to see Fev pull the boots on and see how he can help develop our young stars.“We would love to welcome Fev and his family to the club and wish him all the best for the upcoming season.”