Yarrawonga coup? Fev says no

The former Carlton and Brisbane forward took to Twitter yesterday afternoon to dismiss rumours linking him with a move to the Pigeons after Before The Game host Andy Maher quizzed the two-time Coleman medallist about a potential move to the Ovens and Murray.

“So the boys at Yarrawonga are apparently spruiking the signing of Brendan Fevola for the coming season. Any truth big fella?” Maher wrote on Monday night.

The tweet, which fuelled the social media frenzy, saw journalists from as far away as Perth get wind of the story.

But it became a non-event 13 hours later when Fevola replied to Maher with a simple “no truth mate”.

Yarrawonga president Glenn Brear found the funny side when contacted by The Border Mail about the club’s supposed new signing.

“It’s all news to us,” Brear said.

“I guess someone’s got to keep the stories going and some scallywag has decided to go with this one and we’re the club that has been mentioned.”

While he emphatically denied the link to Fevola, Brear said the Pigeons wouldn’t necessarily say no to the power forward should he want to play at the J.C Lowe Oval next season.

“You wouldn’t knock back a champion if he wanted to play for you, he’s been a very good player, but it’s pie in the sky stuff,” Brear said.

Sacked by the Lions in February, Fevola was diagnosed with depression, admitted to a gambling addiction and spent a stint in rehab before attempting to revive his football career in the VFL with the Casey Scorpions this year.

Fevola was second in the league goalkicking, finishing behind prized Wodonga Raiders recruit Patrick Rose.

Brear couldn’t resist a jibe at the Pigeons O and M rival, with the Raiders landing VFL aces Rose, Ben Davies and David Stretton in one of country football’s biggest recruiting raids this off-season.

“Maybe he (Fevola) might be best off going to the Raiders,” he said.

Fevola was recently denied a return to the AFL when he was overlooked in both drafts.

He has also been linked with a move to America to pursue a punting career in the NFL, as well as an appearance on Dancing with the Stars.