FOR years, he was simply known as ‘Fev’. He’s also widely known as ‘Loosh’. 

Now, you can also call Brendan Fevola ‘Guinness World Record holder’. 

Aiming to break the record set by Rob Gronkowski for the highest altitude catch of an American football, Fevola completed the feat when a helicopter was suspended 221.89 metres above IKON Park. 

Fevola had been here before. His previous attempt last year in Geelong (a Gisborne attempt was aborted before it even began) ultimately proved unsuccessful: from there, he knew there was one thing he needed to do to ensure things would pan out well.

That was returning home to Royal Parade, where he stepped on the IKON Park turf for the first time in 13 years. 

The rest, as they say, really is history. 

“It just feels like home. I thought if there was any place I was going to do it, it’d be here. I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to do it here,” Fevola said.

“To be back at IKON Park - Princes Park when I first started back in 1998 - and back on this ground, I haven’t been on it since 2009. When we got the opportunity to do it here, I was like ‘there’s no doubt I’ll get it done on this ground’. This is where I started my footy career, this is my home. 

“I lost a diamond earring somewhere that I got as a wedding present that I was going to go look for!

Up until last year, Fevola would’ve walked in the doors as the last Coleman Medallist at the Carlton Football Club. Now, he’s third on the most-recent pecking order, behind Harry McKay (2021) and now Charlie Curnow (2022).

Speaking on the two key forwards, he answered — in true ‘Fev’ fashion.

“We’ve got two in a row — it’s good. I would’ve won about 15 if you had to kick 60 goals and win a Coleman,” he laughed.

“For Charlie to come back and play a full season is exciting. He puts bums on seats, I want to watch him play, everyone wants to watch him play. Every time he goes near the ball, they scream: he’s got that x-factor.

“Harry had a great year last year… and he’s about 80 feet tall. It’s a great combination — it’s pretty tough for the opposition when both of those guys are up forward.”

Fevola’s final season in Navy Blue was 2009, when the team broke an eight-year finals drought. 

While disappointed he won’t be seeing the team where he led the goal kicking for seven straight seasons in action this week, he believes the events of recent weeks will serve the team well going forward.

“‘Vossy’ is a great facilitator. He’s a great people person, I think he’ll educate the players on what to do and what not to do when you get in those game situations,” he said.

“To have that burning desire to play in finals after missing, that’s going to hold them in good stead.”