NEW Brisbane Lion Brendan Fevola says while thrilled to be joining a club now considered a genuine premiership chance, he had wanted to stay in Melbourne, preferably at Collingwood.

Fevola spoke to Triple M radio on Wednesday morning and revealed that he tried to get Collingwood president Eddie McGuire to help him get to the Magpies after the initial Lions-Carlton deal fell through.

The initial agreement collapsed on Thursday after Michael Rischitelli decided he wanted to remain a Lion.

Fevola then rang McGuire, urging him to try to secure a trade with the Blues. The Coleman Medallist said he had also been keen to play for St Kilda, but in the end he was pleased to have landed at the Lions.

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BRISBANE Lions CEO Michael Bower has issued an open letter to the club’s supporters after a flood of calls and emails following a busy trade week.

The Lions gained Xavier Clarke, Andrew Raines, Amon Buchanan and Brent Staker over last week’s trade period but the biggest and most talked about deal was the acquisition of Coleman medallist Brendan Fevola.

The letter, which was issued on lions.com.au on Wednesday morning reassured fans the club would take on all feedback good or bad from its supporters.

"As the CEO I care very much what members and fans think of this club on a daily basis as we rise and fall on your patronage as our customers," Bowers wrote.

"You are the lifeblood ...
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BRENDAN Fevola has apologised for his Brownlow Medal night antics and hopes his move to the Brisbane Lions will put the wild child days behind him.

Just hours after the biggest deal of the trade week was completed, Fevola fronted the Queensland media with Lions coach Michael Voss at Gold Coast theme park Wet 'n' Wild on Friday afternoon, saying his misdemeanours were a thing of the past.

The Coleman Medallist was traded north with pick 27 in the national draft for Lachlan Henderson and pick number 12.

In an open and honest press conference, Fevola shied away from no questions, including fresh allegations he sexually assaulted a female journalist on Brownlow Medal night.

He apologised for his Brownlow night actions, ...
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Brendan Fevola finally becomes a Lion plus a trade wrap

THE POST-Brendan Fevola era began at the Carlton Football Club shortly after 11am on Friday and president Stephen Kernahan admitted to mixed emotions as the club said farewell to its controversial spearhead after 11 eventful years.

Fevola's messy exit from the club has been clouded in rumour and innuendo about the booze-fuelled Brownlow Medal night antics that precipitated his trade to the Brisbane Lions.

Kernahan described Fevola's actions on Brownlow night as an "accelerator" of his exit and defended the club's handling of the matter.

"This club's been accused of being a bit soft in handling Brendan in the past and now we're going to be accused of being pretty heavy handed," Kernahan said adding the board hastily met the next ...
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IT'S OFFICIAL – Brendan Fevola is a Brisbane Lion.

The Fevola trade was completed just after 11am on Friday – the final day of trade week – with the Blues sending the spearhead to Brisbane along with their second-round pick (No.27 overall).

In return, Carlton gains promising youngster and Victorian Lachlan Henderson, along with pick No.12 in next month’s NAB AFL Draft.

Trading Fevola has enabled the Blues to get back into the first round of the draft after they earlier traded away pick 11 in exchange for former Demon Brock McLean.

But the Brisbane Lions and their remarkable trade week booty is the big story.

Just 24 hours earlier the Lions had offered Carlton Daniel Bradshaw and midfielder Michael Rischitelli in exchange for Fevola.

Rischitelli’s reluctance to move back to ...
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COLLINGWOOD says ruckman Josh Fraser was never going anywhere during AFL trade week and fully supports his club’s latest addition to the playing list.

The Magpies added Sydney Swans ruckman Darren Jolly to their emerging list during the exchange period, giving up their first- and third-round picks in the process.

News of Jolly’s arrival mid-week sparked rumours the Pies, now possessing a big-bodied ruckman, might have been looking to off-load Fraser.

But Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said the club had always regarded Fraser as a required player.

“He wasn’t bandied around by us,” Walsh said from Etihad Stadium. “As I said earlier in the week … nearly the first person in the club that was questioned about the ability to bring another ruckman in to help Josh, was ...
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GEELONG will look to secure out-of-contract premiership players David Wojcinksi, Mathew Stokes and Mark Blake after the AFL exchange period ended without any late changes to its list.

Apart from lodging the paperwork for defender Marcus Drum's cross from Fremantle, in exchange for selection 49 in next month's NAB AFL Draft, the Cats had not planned for their involvement in any 11th-hour deals on Friday.

Media speculation suggested Wojcinski and Stokes could be traded to help ease pressure on the club's salary cap, but Geelong football operations manager Neil Balme confirmed that wasn't the case.

West Coast had even declared its interest in small forward Stokes, who was left out of this year's grand final side.

"We weren't trying to trade ...
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HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson said the Hawks were never going to let go of Campbell Brown as it could have had ramifications on the culture of the club.

Clarkson said the Hawks didn't offer Brown up for trade in a bid to secure Shaun Burgoyne, but the Power were eager to lure him to Alberton.

"I know the Essendon footy club did that back in 2002 with Damien Hardwick, Blake Caracella, Justin Blumfield and also Chris Heffernan and I don't think it did the Essendon footy club any good," he said.

"Sending out players of that quality – it affects the culture of your club too much and we weren't going to do that with five quality players in our footy club, who are just ...
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THE AFL says the high level of trade week activity indicates there is less need for free agency.

The recently altered trading rules enable draft selections to be swapped without a player being involved, forced mediation when talks break down, and the ability to trade rookies.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the changes had resulted in more beneficial interaction between clubs. 

"I think the fact we've had 23 players find new homes and that we've relaxed the rules to enable more trades to happen more freely is a good thing," he said on Friday, after the official 2pm deadline.

"It means a club that loses a player is getting something in return, whereas free agency ...
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