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THE Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League is expected to backflip on a decision to allow Brendan Fevola to play for Yarrawonga on Easter Sunday.
The league has called a special meeting for tonight to discuss a move to bring forward a game between Yarrawonga and Wangaratta to March 30, which would allow Fevola to make his debut for the Pigeons a week later at Easter.
News follows Fev: Here's how the saga surrounding Brendan Fevola's signing has evolved.
Fevola has to serve a one-match suspension incurred in the VFL last year despite sitting out a game in the Darwin competition he played in over summer.
The board’s decision last Friday created a storm of criticism from other clubs including Yarrawonga’s opponent on Easter Sunday, Lavington, and reigning premier Albury.
Wangaratta Rovers president and former O&M board member Mark Booth has challenged the O&M board’s integrity in making the change.
O&M chairman Greg Claney said tensions were running high and the matter had to be resolved.
“It has caused a fair bit of friction with some fences hard to mend, I would imagine.
“We believe what Yarrawonga has done by signing Fevola has been good for the competition.
“We were not looking from a club perspective.”
The O&M board has the power to make changes to the fixture, which is finalised in November each year.
Yarrawonga sought out Wangaratta as an opponent last Thursday after exhaustive discussions with Football Victoria about the Fevola suspension ended.
Pigeons president Glenn Brear said last night he hoped the board would stick to its original decision.
“Football would be the loser, Yarrawonga would be the loser,” he said.
“The Ovens and Murray has had two months of outstanding exposure.
“If they can’t see that being a plus to them as the weeks go by it has got me beat.
“Everybody is looking after their own patch as I am, but we are the ones taking the biggest punt here.
“I would hope what has happened over the last two months carries a lot of weight if people decide to change their call.”
Fevola weighed into the debate on Twitter yesterday, saying: “The O&M have done the right thing by everyone that’s involved, supporters, the 3 teams. The other clubs aren’t affected so chill.”
The Pigeons are banking on the proceeds from a 6000-strong home game on Easter Sunday helping cover Fevola’s match payments for the season.
But if he cannot play at Easter and other home games early in the season due to his involvement with television program Dancing With The Stars his deal to play for Yarrawonga could be in major doubt.