Brendan Fevola says I'll play hurt
Chris de Kretser | March 25, 2009 12:00am
BRENDAN Fevola says his bruised heel is still sore, but it won't stop him playing in tomorrow night's sold-out season opener against Richmond.
"It's sore. I'm still limping," Fevola said yesterday.
The Blues full-forward said he had been receiving intense treatment for the injury that he suffered in a practice match in Bunbury 10 days ago.
Fevola has spent extended time in a hyperbaric chamber and it is possible he will take to the MCG with the aid of painkilling injections.
It is not uncommon for injections to be used on bruised heels and Fevola is known to be comfortable with the prospect.
"I've been in a hyperbaric chamber for four days," he said yesterday.
"The treatment is two hours at a time."
Fans snapped up the last public and AFL Reserve tickets yesterday, meaning a crowd of more than 90,000 is possible.
The number of MCC members who walk up on the night will determine whether the match will break records.
Despite the sell out, Channel 10 is refusing to screen a live broadcast.
The eagerly awaited clash between Ben Cousins and Chris Judd will be shown on a 30-minute delay.
Fevola said he had to wear a gas mask and a big moon helmet during his hyperbaric chamber treatment.
"Thankfully another one of the guys was in there with me the other day so we had a game of poker," he said.
"Otherwise we spend the time playing Monopoly or Scrabble. It's so boring."
Fevola left no doubt he would take the field tomorrow.
He has even rejected an invitation to play poker with some Formula One drivers and Shane Warne at Crown tonight so he has the best preparation for the game.
"I'm playing the next day so I can't be up late," he said.
Channel 10 chiefs last night said they required several days notice to alert the public to a change to its advertised broadcast time.
But Richmond president Gary March last night called on the network to reverse its decision. "I would have thought there was still enough time to change their scheduling," March said.
"It's disappointing for those people who can't get along - it will probably be our biggest home-and-away game, with a finals-like atmosphere."
Tomorrow's forecast is 22C with a few light showers.
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