Richmond captain Chris Newman says Brendan Fevola has unfinished business, can make AFL comeback * By Jon Ralph
* Herald Sun
* March 18, 2011 8:57AMRichmond captain Chris Newman says Brendan Fevola has "unfinished business" and believes an AFL club will risk signing him next year.
The pair are close family friends, with the troubled full-forward staying with Newman's brother, Shane, since his return to Melbourne.
Fevola is set to return from the United States to sign with VFL side Casey Scorpions, but Newman says if he wants to play AFL football again he must lift his game.
Newman says only if Fevola shows AFL clubs he has changed will one extend him a lifeline.
"I think it is important for him, and he feels like he has got some unfinished business," Newman said.
"The ball is in his court. If he wants to play, he has to conduct himself in a manner good enough for an AFL club to pick him up. He has to get back from overseas, knuckle down and train hard."
Carlton captain Chris Judd did not rule out Fevola returning to the AFL but was more concerned with his overall welfare.
"(He should play again) if that is what he wants to do," Judd said.
"It would be great for him to find some happiness next year, and if that's playing AFL, VFL or just being a dad, whatever makes him happy would be best."
Newman said Fevola was spending some time with his (Fevola's) brother, Jason, in America and trying to "get away from the media circus, which will no doubt be waiting for him once he gets back".
"He was staying with my brother before he went overseas, and Shane is doing him a favour housing him," Newman said.
"Shane has been a pretty big influence on our lives growing up. I think he's in a good place at the moment.
"I am not sure of the living arrangements going forward."
Newman believes Fevola's career is not dead.
"A year is a long time. As long as he's doing the right things, perception can carry a lot of weight," he said.
"He has to play team football, which AFL teams want to see.
"I think I doubted it. I thought he was finished, but I think now he can make a good go of it. He just needs to make a good decision and stick with it, and work really hard."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/richmond-captain-chris-newman-says-brendan-fevola-has-unfinished-business-can-make-afl-comeback/story-e6frf33l-1226023739850