We take a look at two sometimes controversial figures who made headlines in the past decade in our latest instalment of "BFL memorable moments".
PHIL CARMAN (Sebastopol)
Phil Carman, one of the biggest and most controversial players in the VFL/AFL in the 1970s and 1980s, was appointed Sebastopol coach at the end of 2013.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Carman, 63, stepped straight out of a one-year coaching stint with East Gambier in the Western Border Football League.
It was a big call by the Burra, but the battling club was desperate to change its fortunes and saw the vastly experienced Carman as a possible saviour.
Carman played a combined total of 100 VFL/AFL games with four clubs - Collingwood, Melbourne, Essendon and North Melbourne.
He produced his best football in a four-year stay with Collingwood from 1975, earning the nickname of "Fabulous Phil" in 66 games - kicking 142 goals and winning the Copeland Trophy.
Carman had been coaching since retiring from North Melbourne in 1982.
The question was, would he be the answer at Sebastopol?
The answer would be no.
Sebastopol sacked him after less than one season at the helm - midway through his contract.
He was released with three home and away rounds remaining in 2014 and still without a win.
Carman, who was living in Bendigo, said: "To be honest I feel absolutely wonderful. I can honestly say a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
At the time of his departure Sebastopol had won just once in 52 games.
BRENDAN FEVOLA (Bacchus Marsh)
Spearhead Brendan Fevola became a gun for hire after he ended his AFL career with Carlton and Brisbane Lions.
Fevola took his football roadshow around Australia, drawing massive crowds to one-off appearances.
Bacchus Marsh was among the clubs to secure his services in 2013.
Cobras coach Doug Hawkins did not shy away from why he made the call to get Fevola for one game.
He acknowledged that money was the driving factor behind getting Fevola to the club, with the objective of a financial windfall.
And it worked. Fans packed Maddingley Park for the clash with Sunbury.
As well as attracting a massive crowd, Fevola also almost secured a surprise victory for Bacchus Marsh.
A Fevola goal put the Cobras within two points of the Lions in the last quarter.
Unfortunately there would be no fairytale finish, with Sunbury kicking away.
The result did not matter though.
As Pat Nolan reported for The Courier:
It mattered little that Bacchus Marsh lost.
As soon as the final siren went, a number of Sunbury players rushed over to Fevola to have their photo taken with him.
Opponents taking photos with their opposition seconds after the final siren - unheard of.
Crowds swarmed to Fev like he was a rockstar.
BRENDAN FEVOLA (Melton South)
It was one of the biggest stories in the BFL's modern era.
With all the fanfare which had followed Brendan Fevola throughout his football career, the former Carlton and Brisbane Lions goalkicking ace was appointed as joint coach of a struggling Melton South for 2017.
He signed on in partnership with Sean Triplett, who had had experience under the likes of Denis Pagan and Brett Ratten at Carlton.
Fevola had had a golden touch, playing in premierships with Deer Park in the Western Region Football League in 2016, and back-to-back premierships at Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray league in 2012 and 2013.
The 35-year-old's AFL career featured 575 goals in 187 games with Carlton and a forgettable one season at Brisbane.
Fevola proved to be a magnet when it came to recruiting at Melton South.
Big names in country and metropolitan football signed on with some other ex-AFL players and in 2017 Triplett and Fevola lifted the Panthers to ninth with six wins after failing to get on the board the previous season.
Fevola was the BFL's leading goalkicker with 56.
Ash Manning replaced Triplett as Fevola's joint coach in 2018, but it was not to be a good year for Melton South.
Fevola was hardly sighted, with injury restricting him to one-game mid-season.
In addition, Manning departed mid-season and was replaced by Heath Pritchard.
The Fevola venture was over.
