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 night to discuss the issue.

"Brownlow night didn't look good for our footy club, but I think the club has acted in an appropriate way. We have had a few issues with Brendan over the years as you know.

"I have got a heavy heart; I have been through a lot with Brendan personally over 11 years and he was a fantastic player for this footy club. If I could turn back Brownlow Medal night, and this is just me speaking, absolutely I would.

"I'd say that our members and supporters are going to take this pretty hard.

"Everyone loves Fev [especially] the kids. My kids won't talk to me now that he's gone and it is a bit surreal. It's going to be different without him here."

Coach Brett Ratten wished Fevola the best and thanked him for his services despite admitting to some discontent at the way he handled the events of the last few weeks. 

"I haven't spoken to him since the Brownlow actually which is quite disappointing," Ratten said.

Fevola was traded to the Brisbane Lions with the Blues' second round pick and in return Carlton got Lachie Henderson and the Lions' pick No.12. An earlier proposal to move Fevola to Brisbane in return for Daniel Bradshaw and Michael Rischitelli fell through.

Bradshaw and Rischitelli flew to Melbourne on Thursday to hear the Blues' sales pitch, but Rischitelli's reluctance was the stumbling block to that trade. Ratten revealed the draft pick and Henderson were always the fall-back option and described them as roughly equivalent.

"What we've really done in the trade period is we did have pick 11, that's gone out to pick 12 now, and we really get [Brock] McLean and Henderson for Brendan … we think that's a pretty good deal," he said.

Ratten was asked if he was happy to have the brilliant but controversial forward off his hands.

"I think it's exciting for our football club. I think we kicked the ball as much to Brendan as we did to the rest of the team going inside 50 so I think there will be a lot of opportunities for players," he replied.

"We might play a little bit differently, but I think we'll reflect back hopefully in two, three, four years time and say that it was a win-win for both clubs.

"Sometimes you've got to go backwards to go forwards, but we might actually [just] go forwards. We'll just wait and see."

Fevola, 28, is one year into a heavily back-ended three-year contract which is thought to be worth up to $2 million and Kernahan admitted the Blues would be footing the bill for an unspecified portion of it.

"That's been looked after reasonably well," he said.

"That's a private deal between the clubs and we're happy with the outcome of that. It was pretty important in the deal to get that right too. It is a substantial amount of money."

Ratten added the Blues would have room to manoeuvre under the cap in the next two years despite the hit taken for a player who will be in different colours.

The coach was also at pains to put to rest some whispers about player unrest that had come to his attention amidst the Fevola saga.

"You hear innuendo about Chris Judd coming into the football club and saying: 'it's me or Brendan', and it's so far wrong," he said.

"He had nothing to do with it. The decision to try and trade someone has nothing to do with Chris Judd at all.

"I'd like to square that one away because it's so far off the mark its ridiculous. No player had any involvement. We didn't ask any players because it's not their decision."

Both coach and president wished Fevola well and maintained he was welcome at the club at any time in the future despite the ugly end to his career in navy blue.
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