Fevola pulled from AFL TV promotion - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Fevola pulled from AFL TV promotion

By Sam Lienert 04/03/2010 05:49:48 PM Comments (0)

The AFL have wiped Brendan Fevola from a television campaign as they seek to limit the damage caused by the controversial star's role in a nude photo scandal.

The Brisbane prize recruit, being investigated by the league over the circulation of a shower snap of model Lara Bingle, was to be used to promote the code in Queensland.

He filmed segments of an advertisement on Wednesday, designed to build anticipation of the Lions' opening games.

But, after questioning the Coleman Medallist over his role in disseminating the Bingle picture on Wednesday, the AFL announced on Thursday he would no longer be part of their campaign.

"The AFL wishes to advise that Brendan Fevola will not feature in a TV commercial to promote rounds one and two for the Brisbane Lions," the league said in a statement.

"The planning for the shoot of the commercial was arranged several weeks ago and was scheduled to go to air in Brisbane later this month, for the opening to the season of the Lions.

"Brendan Fevola was to be used as part of the campaign but the commercial will now go ahead without any reference to Brendan Fevola."

The flamboyant forward - traded from Carlton last October after the Blues tired of his off-field misbehaviour - will be a key drawcard for the Lions, who play their opening two games at the Gabba.

The second of those should be a blockbuster, when Fevola takes on Carlton - whose goal-kicking he led for the past seven years - for the first time in a premiership season match.

Fevola's axing from the promotional role echoes last year's forced reworking by the NRL of their season-opening campaign, which had featured Manly's Brett Stewart, before he was charged with sexual assault.

The other star of that campaign, Melbourne Storm's Brett Inglis, also faced assault charges later in the season.

Lions vice-captain Daniel Merrett said the furore over Fevola's behaviour would not affect the spearhead or his team on the field.

Fevola is still set to play in a practice match against Geelong at Princes Park on Saturday.

"He trained well this morning, he's playing this weekend, so I don't see it as a big distraction to the team," Merrett said.

The Brisbane fullback said the forward had clearly had a difficult few days, but it had not held him up on the training track.

"The great thing about Fev is once he gets on the footy field that's his domain and he enjoys himself on the field and he leaves all that stuff off the field," Merrett said.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news