Fevola still loves Carlton

NEW BRISBANE Lion Brendan Fevola has admitted his heart will always be with Carlton.

The big full-forward trained for the first time with his new club on Tuesday after spending 11 years with the Blues and said while he loved being in Queensland, Carlton would always hold a special place for him.

Fevola was sent to the Lions in trade week for Lachlan Henderson after a catalogue of off-field incidents became too much for the Carlton hierarchy.

However, speaking at the Lions pre-season camp at Noosa, the two-time Coleman Medallist said he did not hold any grudges.

“Carlton will always be my heart,”' he said. “I love Carlton.

“My little girl still runs around the house singing the theme song so I've got to try and get her to know the Brisbane theme song. I've got to learn that first then teach her.''

Fevola will face his old team in round two when the Lions host the Blues in a Thursday night blockbuster at the Gabba.

Fevola said he had a going away party with his old teammates on Saturday night and admitted to discussing the early season match-up.

“Hopefully the fans can get there and I dare say a few Carlton fans will come up as well so it should be fun,” he said.

“I was there for 11 years and I gave them pretty good service and they looked after me pretty well. I don't think I have a point to prove. I think they know what sort of person and bloke I was around the footy club. I was there for 11 years and I grew up with those blokes and I've got a lot of friends there.

“That happens in sport these days, not too many players stay at the same club, blokes do change clubs.”

Despite being a veteran in the league, and now at the Lions, the 2009 Coleman Medallist said he was nervous going to his first Lions session.

His wife Alex even sent him a text message wishing him luck on his first day at 'school'.

“I stayed at [Simon] Black's house on Monday night and driving to training I was a bit nervous and the stomach had a few butterflies in it, walking into the club, different surrounding and you're out of your comfort zone," Fevola said.

“You walk in not knowing much but the first day was pretty good.

“I'll just be sitting down with the family, I've got another daughter due in a month, and just really enjoy it up here and just really soak up the next couple of years.

“Footy is not going to be here forever, might only be here for another three, five or six years, so just really make the most of it and hopefully win a premiership.”

Fevola admitted he was excited at the prospect of lining up alongside Lions captain Jonathan Brown in the forward line.

However, he said he may have to tread warily around the hulking Lion.

“Browny's generally a centre half-forward and I'm a full-forward. You see it with [Daniel] Bradshaw as well, he played here and kicked nearly 500 goals and they worked pretty well together,” he said.

“I tend to lead one way and Browny leads the other so hopefully we don't run into each other too much, he's a super player.

“I've watched a few tapes and he does come back with he flight a lot so we'll have to watch that because he's a big boy Browny and he might knock me out.

“I don't think kicking goals will be too much of a problem.”