AFL star Brendan Fevola has revealed for the first time he sold his Coleman Medal to feed his crippling poker machine addiction.
The 39-year-old previously denied claims he listed the prestigious medal, which he won in 2009 as the league’s leading goalkicker, on Ebay in April 2012.
The former Carlton and Brisbane player’s 2008 and 2009 All Australian trophies were also listed for sale at the same time.
Almost nine years later, Fevola revealed on FOX FM’s Fifi, Fev and Nick that he sold the medal as he struggled with a gambling addiction.
Brendan Fevola revealed that he sold his John Coleman Medal to feed his gambling addiction
‘I sold my Coleman, that was mine,’ Fevola said on the show on Friday.
‘I did that. Mate, I wanted to punt so I sold it for cash. Bought it back though.’
Back in 2017, Fevola also revealed the moment he won big before losing – and how he knew he was in trouble.
‘I lost $360,000 in three to four days… what an absolute idiot,’ he said.
On Friday, Fevola said he has nothing left in his name. He is pictured with his ex-wife, now fiancee Alex
‘I used to gamble a fair bit, when you win money, the more money you have the more money you bet.’
He said he spent close to 12 hours betting on horses, only to rack up $366,000 in his account.
As the bookie wouldn’t release his winnings until the Monday, he quickly dropped to being $20,000 in debt by Sunday night, four days after his ‘win’.
Explaining his gambler’s mentality to co-host Fifi Box at the time, he said: ‘When you win, you get excited and you want to bet more, but eventually you’re going to lose, because you keep betting bigger and bigger and bigger.’
Fevola also revealed he used family funds to escalate his bets, which ‘crippled’ his family.
‘It affects your family, you lose that much money and then you go into other money and then you don’t have money. It crippled,’ he said.
On Friday, Fevola said he has nothing left in his own name.
‘I have nothing man, I got nothing in my name,’ he said.
‘Everything is in Alex’s (his ex-wife now fiancee) name.’
Fevola (pictured) revealed that he sold one of his medals to feed his gambling addiction
Brendan Fevola says he’s finally found ‘the best job in the world’ on his breakfast radio show – after recovering from a gambling addiction and alcohol abuse following split with his wife
The former AFL star said last december that he was happier than he has ever been before.
The 3am start for his radio program was a shock for one-time hell-raiser, who was more accustomed to arriving home in the wee hours than going out to work at that time.
Loves it! Brendan Fevola (pictured) says that he’s finally found ‘the best job in the world’. The former AFL star is a breakfast presenter on Fox Fm’s Fifi, Fev & Byron radio program – and he’s never been happier
Brendan told The Herald Sun in December.: ‘The thing is you wake up at 3-3.30 every morning and I used to get home then but it’s a great job, great people, best job in the world’.
Byron Cooke announced that he’s leaving Melbourne radio station Fox FM after five years to focus on his new podcast and spend more time with his family – with the Fifi, Fev & Byron show becoming the Fifi, Fev & Nick show next year.
Brendan says his new co-star is ‘funny, very good’ and will fit in well with himself and presenter Fifi Box.
Lifestyle: The 3am start for the program was a shock for the one-time hell-raiser, who was more accustomed to arriving home in the wee hours than going out to work at that time
Brendan told The Herald Sun on Friday: ‘The thing is you wake up at 3-3.30 every morning and I used to get home then but it’s a great job, great people, best job in the world’
Last year, Brendan revealed how he was was pulled from the depths of depression as he battled a gambling addiction and alcohol abuse after a rocky split with his wife, Alex Fevola, 43.
The former AFL star admitted he ‘didn’t realise’ the extent of his mental health problems until he was ‘saved’ by ex-Brisbane Lions Coach Michael Voss.
‘I didn’t really know there was too much wrong, I was in my own bubble doing what I thought was something I loved which was footy,’ Fevola told the What’s Your Problem podcast.
‘Then I got injured and a lot of things happened in my life, as you said separation is a key factor, my wife left me.’
Issues: Last year, Brendan revealed how he was was pulled from the depths of depression as he battled a gambling addiction and alcohol abuse after a rocky split with his wife, Alex Fevola, 43. Pictured together in 2007
Weeding day: Brendan split from his wife Alex in 2006, after 14 months of marriage. The couple are pictured at their wedding in 2005
He split from his wife Alex in 2006, after 14 months of marriage, following accusations he was in a relationship with model Lara Bingle.
In 2017, Brendan recalled his biggest gambling loss, which he claims was a catalyst for his wife Alex filing for divorce.
The former footballer candidly retold the troubling story on the Fifi, Dave, Fev and Byron show, revealing: ‘I lost $360,000 in three to four days… what an absolute idiot.’
Coach Voss told Brendan it was time to get some help, which was ‘like 100kg had been lifted off my shoulders’.
Issues: In 2017, Brendan recalled his biggest gambling loss, which he claims was a catalyst for his wife Alex filing for divorce
Ouch: The former footballer candidly retold the troubling story on the Fifi, Dave, Fev and Byron show, revealing: ‘I lost $360,000 in three to four days… what an absolute idiot’
‘Finally I was saying this is what happened, I punted on this and I’ve done that and I’ve lost this much money, this is what happened with my wife,’ he said.
The former footballer checked into the New Farm mental health clinic at the beginning of 2011.
‘I was supposed to be in there for seven days, ended up being there for about 70 so there were a few issues going on that I didn’t really know about cause I never spoke about it, it was all bottled up inside,’ he said.
Family: Two years after his divorce, Brendan announced he was engaged to his ex-wife and they welcomed their fourth child, Tori, in 2018. Brendan and Alex share three children, Leni, 13, Lulu, nine, and baby Tobi, one. All pictured
Two years after his divorce, Brendan announced he was engaged to his ex-wife and they welcomed their fourth child, Tori, in 2018.
Brendan and Alex share three children, Leni, 13, Lulu, nine, and baby Tobi, one.
The footy star is also a stepfather to Alex’s teenage daughter, Mia, 21, from a previous relationship.
Brendan played for the Lions for one season and retired from AFL in 2011.