By JARROD POTTER
EVERYONE got their money’s worth in Dandenong football circles this week as a battered-and-bruised Brendan Fevola pushed Sandown Cobras to a four-point victory over cross-town rival Lyndale.
The script-writers sure knew how to make a drama-filled, action-packed afternoon at Edinburgh Reserve, with the newly renovated change rooms and pavilion proving an ideal backdrop to the chaos on field.
With a Yarrawonga connection in coach Rick Bean, the former Carlton/Brisbane AFL footballer Fevola made himself available this week to play a one-off SFL Division-3 match for the Cobras.
After pinching a back nerve earlier in the week – which left him practically bedridden at one point – Fevola remained in doubt all the way up to the first bounce.
Despite his ailment, the Narre Warren/Beaconsfield alumnus honoured his commitment to don the red, blue and white but was in agony throughout the clash. Picking up the ball from the ground proved painful enough, let alone running the field and leading from the square.
Even though he was barely able to get into first gear, Fevola showed his skill with a supreme performance out of the goal-square.
With the wind at his back for a blitzing second-quarter performance and booting five goals – it helped push the Cobras back in front and set the stage for an exciting second half.
Lyndale caught fire in the third term as it booted away to a 12-point lead, and with the clock ticking down, all eyes turned to the square as the Cobras’ fans hoped for one last piece of Fevola-magic.
He would deliver. A high-ball in, set above his head, was gobbled up gladly on the second attempt.
Lyndale defender Brian Grundy could only look on and hope he missed, after number 96 performed gallantly to stop the former AFL super-boot throughout the second half. But it was Fevola’s day and he rammed through his eighth to send the crowd into raucous celebration.
The Pumas rolled the dice in the last two minutes, but couldn’t muster the match-winner as Sandown held on to claim a 14.10 (94) to 13.12 (90) triumph, which will go down in their history books.
“Mate it was a fairytale for them,” Fevola said.
“It was a great day with all the boys… they’ve put on a great show and hopefully the crowd enjoyed it.
“Had a rub-down before the game and I literally couldn’t get off the rub-down bench so I struggled pretty much all day, but when a club puts on a day like today you got to get out here and suck it up… I was just lucky enough to contribute and play a little bit of a part in the win.”
If anything, his eight-goals-one was short of what he was capable of achieving even with the back injury, as his Cobras team mates blazed away and sprayed behinds and turnovers instead of hitting up their dominant full forward.
Fevola will return to the bush this weekend as Yarrawonga faces Myrtleford in the Ovens and Murray League.
BREAKOUT BOX
FEVOLA’S GOALS
A bag of eight is always impressive, even more so when it’s with a damaged back, limiting your movement. Here is how ‘Fev’ snagged his bag of eight.
1ST TERM
(1) 14th minute – Fevola’s first goal comes from an iffy free kick. Going back, at a slight angle 25 metres out… goal!
2ND TERM
(2) 4th minute – A quick kick to Fevola who wrestles 36 out of the way. He mark and kicks… goal.
(3) 15th minute – First of the Fev-alanche. Taking a free kick not far from the square and slots it.
(4) 17th minute – Taking a handball over the top from 29, Fevola runs into goal for the ultimate cherry-picked effort.
(5) 19th minute – He’s just far too good overhead. Fevola marks and leans back to slot a textbook Fe-goal-a.
(6) 19th and a half – The ball quickly gets back to Fevola from centre, he kicks… goal!
3RD TERM
(7) 13th – Fevola on the line marks a huge shot from 20, plays on and slots it!
4TH TERM
(8) 18th – Fevola had to wait a while to get any service late in the match, but Fevola’s pack-grab, backing into the mire of defenders was his best of the afternoon. From there he goes back and slots the match-winner from 25 metres out to huge celebrations.
