A night of drunken New Year's revelry has ended with serial AFL offender Brendan Fevola seeking treatment for deep-seated problems, and his career back under a dark cloud.

Just a month after being cleared by the AFL over an incident that had him on the cusp of being sacked by the Brisbane Lions, Fevola's future with the club is again in grave doubt.

The 204-match full-forward was arrested at 4.30am on Saturday following an ugly incident with elite police officers, after being directed off busy Brunswick Street in the popular drinking precinct of Fortitude Valley.

He was charged with being a public nuisance and obstructing police and has been remanded to front Brisbane's Magistrates Court on January 18.

After walking out of Brisbane's Roma St watch-house in miserable shape before midday, Fevola requested, and was granted, indefinite leave from the club to deal with his personal demons.

It's understood the former Carlton star is seeking professional psychiatric help and Lions officials are extremely concerned about his mental state.

Fevola's management team, which includes former Lions premiership forward Alastair Lynch, would not comment on Saturday but the Lions issued a statement.

"The Brisbane Lions AFC has this afternoon granted Brendan Fevola indefinite leave from the club in order to receive professional assistance for a number of personal issues," the statement said.

"Fevola was released from police custody at around 11am and immediately sought leave from the Lions to receive professional assistance.

"While the Brisbane Lions AFC places the well-being of all its staff as a primary focus, the club will hold talks next week regarding what action may be required as a direct result of this morning's incident."

The AFL has also been kept informed of the matter by Brisbane and the league will wait for a detailed report from the club before considering any action of their own.

One difficulty for the club in its handling of the latest in a long line of Fevola misdemeanours, was the fact most senior officials - including coach Michael Voss and acting chief executive Steve Wright - were interstate or overseas on the day of the arrest.

The Lions resume training on Monday after their Christmas break but Fevola - who battled gambling and drinking problems off the field in 2010 - isn't expected back on the paddock for some time.

It seemed he was set to be cut loose after the club suspended him indefinitely following an indecent exposure allegation at a park barbecue in September, which saw him barred from the Lions best and fairest dinner.

At the time, new Brisbane chairman Angus Johnson stressed heavy-handed action would be taken against Fevola, who vigorously denied the allegation and was later cleared.

The gung-ho reaction has been shelved this time as he seeks help and the club also decides whether they can afford to keep, or lose, a highly-paid trouble maker.

Voss' late-2009 gamble to sign Fevola from the Blues, who had run out of patience following his drunken Brownlow Medal antics, has backfired massively.

Apart from the fact the deal has ultimately seen the likes of Daniel Bradshaw and Michael Rischitelli leave the club, as well as youngster Lachy Henderson, who was traded along with a second round draft pick, Fevola's back-ended contract will take up $1.6 million under the Lions salary cap over the next two years.

Fevola had been seeing in the new year by drinking with team-mates, who were with him as he was jaywalking on Brunswick St, but a club spokesman denied other Lions were in hot water.

Police allege Fevola reacted badly when approached by their public safety response team, an elite squad trained to deal with riots, yelling and aggressiveness, as he refused to cooperate with their orders.

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