Brendan Fevola fears for the safety of Dave Hughes – as the TV star prepares to return to footy field despite being hospitalised with a punctured lung last time he played

Footy legend Brendan Fevola has genuine fears for the safety of Dave Hughes as the TV star prepares to bravely return to the footy field.

Hughes, 55, has agreed to turn out for Eley Park Sharks in the VAFA Thirds Division 7 Men’s competition at Whitehorse Reserve in Box Hill.

Carlton great Fevola – who will be the star attraction this Saturday when he also plays for the Sharks – is concerned given what happened last time the comedian chased a Sherrin.

In now infamous scenes, Hughes was hospitalised with five broken ribs and a punctured lung last August when he represented the Victorian side against the All Stars in the Legends Match at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

At the time, Fevola felt Hughes was targeted, and said the rough contact from the likes of content creator Dan Gorringe was a ‘dog act.’ 

Understandably, Hughes this week admitted he was ‘slightly nervous’ ahead of lacing his boots for Eley Park.

Hughes, 55, has agreed to turn out for Eley Park Sharks with Fevola in the VAFA Thirds Division 7 Men’s competition at Box Hill (pictured, last year in the Legends Game)

In now infamous scenes, Hughes was hospitalised with five broken ribs and a punctured lung last August when he played for the Victorian side against the All Stars at Marvel Stadium 

Hughes required a chest drain to remove fluid accumulation weeks after the initial injury stemming from the Legends Game in Melbourne

‘I’m going to go flat out, but I don’t want to be targeted,’ Hughes said on Fox FM’s Fifi, Fev & Nick show.

‘The thing about suburban footy is… there’s less cameras and more chance for people who have just got out of prison to really nail you and have a story to dine out on.

‘I need a locked-on camera on me in case there’s an incident, and a direct feed to the local police station.

‘I want to wear a GoPro on my forehead.’

Fevola, who has vowed to protect his good mate on the field, hopes Hughes ‘doesn’t snap in half’.

‘This isn’t a funny game, it is for premiership points, so let’s just hope he gets through it,’ the decorated forward said.

Last year Fevola and Aussie music star Guy Sebastian played a one-off game for Masala Dandenong in the Division 5 Thirds competition in suburban Melbourne.

It proved to be an eventful afternoon for Australian Idol winner Sebastian, who ruptured his Achilles, which required surgery.

First bounce at Whitehorse Reserve in Box Hill this Saturday is 12pm, with multi-platinum artist Amy Shark to perform a special show at half-time.