Bulldogs join Swans in ruling out Fevola
Two AFL clubs considered likely to want Brendan Fevola have ruled out bidding for the wayward Carlton star.
The Western Bulldogs have joined Sydney in saying the two-time Coleman Medallist will not be on their radar when trade week starts next Monday.
The `Dogs have reaffirmed their commitment to recruit former Swans co-captain Barry Hall.
"We're not going to go down that path at all, simple as that and we've spoken to Carlton," Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said of Fevola.
"Our intentions are to bring Barry Hall to us, whether that be through a trade or drafting.
"To bring him into our club, that was our aim and that's what we want to stick with.
"You talk about `fit' for your club and the rest of it, you go through a number of things. Just right now we don't think that (a Fevola trade) is what we need to be focussing on."
It has emerged that negotiations between the Bulldogs and Sydney over Hall have struck an impasse.
While Hall is still likely to join the `Dogs, they are baulking at Sydney's demand for a second-round draft pick.
The Bulldogs clearly need a power forward, such as Hall or Fevola, to give their attack greater potency.
Soon after news broke on Tuesday that the Blues would look at trading Fevola, Sydney coach Paul Roos said it was "highly unlikely" that the key forward would join the Swans.
Carlton have lost patience with Fevola after his drunken antics at last week's Brownlow Medal count, the latest in a string of off-field incidents involving the brilliant key forward.
The Blues have made it clear that this is far more serious than trying to scare Fevola.
If the right deal can be struck, Fevola's 11-year career at Carlton is over.
"It's sad, because it's a bit of reflection on what we weren't able to do," said David Parkin, Fevola's first senior coach at Carlton.
"I'm very sad for the boy, for his family, but particularly for the footy club."
Predictably, no clubs have publicly declared their hand yet with the start of trade week still four days away.
But much of trade week will revolve around the Fevola negotiations.
"At this point in time a lot of water has got to go under the bridge," said Brisbane coach Michael Voss.
Asked to then clarify whether he was not ruling out a bid for Fevola, Voss replied: "Never do".
Likewise, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said the Magpies were keeping their options open.
"Like everybody, we'll look through all available candidates, but that will be something for (coach) Mick Malthouse and (football manager) Geoff Walsh to consider in due course," McGuire said.
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