Brendan Fevola says country living saved his life, marriage
AFL legend Brendan Fevola admits he has led a “colourful life” but reveals it was a move to the country that turned him around — and saved his marriage.
Confidential
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AFL legend Brendan Fevola has credited country life with turning around his personal and professional fortunes.
Fevola, who is now a Fox FM broadcaster, said living in Yarrawonga, 250km northeast of Melbourne, saved his marriage and saved him from a spiral into alcohol and gambling.
“Yarrawonga played a big key in turning around my life,” Fevola said. “Country people are the best. They’re relatable, they’re down to earth, and they didn’t care where I’d been, how high I’d got, and how hard I’d fallen. They treated me like everyone else. It was a real leveller.”
The former Blues and Lions champion lived in Yarrawonga from 2012 to 2015, and played for the local footy team, The Pigeons.
Fevola said his time in the country coincided with reconciling with his wife, Alex. They have four children.
“When I was up there, Alex would say, ‘You’ve changed, you’re just a different person,’” Fevola said.
“You get caught up in the footy bubble. You don’t care about what’s outside because you’re constantly in the footy bubble. When I got out of the footy bubble, I got back with Alex.”
Fevola competed in, and won, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here in 2016, which he also credits with turning his life around.
But he paid his biggest tribute to Alex. “I wouldn’t be anywhere without her. She’s like my producer at (the radio show). She listens in, and tells me where I went wrong and how I need to improve. She’s my biggest supporter.”
Fevola says he likes to laugh at himself, and his journey, on the Fox FM breakfast show alongside co-hosts Fifi Box and Byron Cooke, and new pop-up station for kids, Little Fox.
“I’m self deprecating. I put myself under the bus a lot. I’ve had a colourful life, and I can admit to all of it,” Fevola said. “People who listen to the show can relate to it, and say, ‘Oh, I’ve done that as well.’”
He added: “I’ve had to do a lot of growing up over the years. I’m so fortunate. My story is about me and Alex, I’ve got a 20 year old, I’ve got a teenager, I’ve got a 10-year-old and I’ve got a baby.”
Fevola joked: “I’ve got five girls at home that I can throw under the bus (on the radio show) now and then.”