AFL Daily: Brendan Fevola reveals how Michael Voss saved him amid mental health battle
Brendan Fevola has revealed how former Brisbane coach Michael Voss helped save him and his mental health as he battled a gambling addiction, alcohol abuse and struggling to deal with the breakdown of his marriage.
Former Carlton and Brisbane forward Brendan Fevola has opened up about the depths of his mental health issues that resulted in him checking into a clinic to seek help.
Fevola, whose AFL career ended in 2011 after multiple off-field indiscretions, revealed it was former coach Michael Voss who helped him get the help he needed.
The star goal kicker was injured and struggling to deal with the breakdown of his marriage with wife, Alex, when the ex-Brisbane coach stepped in.
Fevola had also been dealing with other issues he later revealed as depression, a gambling addiction and alcohol abuse.
"I didn't realise until I sat down up in Brisbane with Michael Voss, who obviously got me up to the club," Fevola said on the What's Your Problem men's mental health podcast.
"He knew something was going on. He didn't know me too well but he knew something wasn't good because things were sort of derailing a little bit, the wheels were starting to fall off.
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"I just felt like Vossy was that bloke – I don't think he likes me much anymore – I felt like he was a good listener and he could help me. It was really weird. I haven't spoken to him since I left Brisbane.
"He said we need to get you some help, we'll do this, we'll do that and God I felt amazing. It was like 100kg had been lifted off my shoulders.
"Finally I was saying this is what happened, I punted on this and I've done that and I've lost this much money, this is what happened with my wife.
"He's sitting there and his jaw hit the table. He's like 'oh my God, this bloke is cooked' but he got me the right help and I went into a clinic and it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me."
Fevola said he spent approximately 70 days at the New Farm clinic.
Originally published as AFL Daily: Brendan Fevola reveals how Michael Voss saved him amid mental health battle