Brendan Fevola says his sordid past is the secret to his success as a radio star

Brendan Fevola says his rough and tumble antics off the footy field laid the groundwork for his current success as a radio star.

Describing most media personalities as ‘clean skins who have lived a good life’, the Fox FM breakfast host and former AFL great calls himself ‘a s**t bag’ – and says it’s something his listeners can relate to.

Brendan, who was sacked by the Brisbane Lions in 2011, made the comments during an interview last month on the Along for the Ride podcast.

‘I think the beauty of what I have done in the past has really helped me in radio,’ he said.

The hulking former Carlton great has battled alcohol and gambling issues and has frequently made headlines with his outrageous antics.

Brendan says his knockabout image is ‘real’ and it’s something listeners can relate to. Pictured with his Fox FM co-hosts Nick Cody and Fifi Box

Fevola, who played 204 games for the Carlton Blues and Brisbane Lions before exiting first class footy for good thirteen years ago, has a history of addiction.

He infamously sold his Coleman Medal to feed his out-of-control gambling habit.

The loveable star said losing a job and getting kicked out of the AFL and doing  ‘certain things I shouldn’t have done…people can relate to that, they know that I am real.’

The Dancing with the Stars veteran also admitted that he makes the most out of his image as a naughty larrikin and ‘idiot’.

But he says, ‘all the times I stuffed up or done bad things in my past, geez, it is great for radio,’ he said.

The former Carlton great has battled alcohol and gambling issues. Pictured with wife Alex Fevola

Brendan is stepfather to Mia while he and Alex also parent daughters Leni, Lulu, and Tobi (all pictured)

‘It makes good topics for phoners and I can relate to so many things.’

A father of four, Brendan co-hosts the Fifi, Fev and Nick breakfast show on Fox FM with Fifi Box and Nick Cody.

Brendan, who is married to Alex Fevola, is stepfather to Mia while he and Alex also parent daughters Leni, Lulu, and Tobi. 

The high-profile couple married in 2005, divorced in 2014 and became engaged again in 2016.