Mystery as Fev's medals hit eBay

Aaron Langmaid

From: Herald Sun

April 05, 201212:00AM

A COVETED Coleman Medal won by Brendan Fevola was fetching bids of thousands of dollars on eBay last night as the mystery deepened into how it was listed for sale.

Police are investigating the possible theft of three awards, including the medal issued to the one-time Carlton and Brisbane forward in 2009.

Fevola reportedly believed the three items, including two All-Australian trophies, had been at his mum's house, when they had actually been left in the garage of the house he rented in Brisbane.

Bids for the medal, one of the biggest individual awards in footy, spiked yesterday as souvenir hunters dug deep.

The sale of the items at first led to speculation about Fevola's financial situation after he admitted to serious gambling problems a year ago.

It comes as Fevola, 31, prepares for a country footy comeback for Yarrawonga this weekend and ahead of his debut on Dancing with the Stars which, at minimum, would earn him about $50,000 an appearance.

The 2009 Coleman Medal was listed on e-Bay by user 2012Hodgepodge. It was listed as "the real deal" with a current bid that jumped from $600 to more than $13,000 last night.

Fevola's 2008 and 2009 All Australian Trophies were also for sale with bids of more than $700.

Neither Fevola nor his management could be contacted for comment.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the decision to sell awards or memorabilia was the player's right.

"A number of players have made varying decisions on what they've done with material they don't wish to keep - sold it to provide for family, donated to museums or given away to supporters," he said.

"We support whatever choice the individual wishes to make."