It's a very interesting point by Darcy and unlike some of others who have posted in this thread, not something I'd throw out of the water without a second thought. It's something I have thought about as well.
The answer of course is not definite but some points of consideration would be:
1. How far away we think we really are. Do we think we are close, i.e. next 3-4 year? Or if we are bit further away (>5), would Fevola really be going as good as he is at 32? Would he last that long? Remember he is only one indiscretion away from being sacked.
2. What really is put up on the market come trade time. If a top 5 pick is there with some other incentive, surely you'd have to give it some consideration.
3. Of course the whole 'who is going to kick our goals' argument. Can we afford to trade him and still win games of footy? Who can do that? Waite? Fisher? Edwards' development? Players we draft? If we had've kept Kennedy, it probably would've been a tad clearer.
4. The new Gold Coast franchise coming over would be loaded with picks in top 5 in 3 years. Fevola would be 29/30 then, should we ship him off then if he is playing? Would he last that long? Would he still command a pick in that range?
What a lot of you blokes are forgetting is that Fevola is ONE indiscretion away from being booted out of this club. Can we risk it?
Remember, no club is going to pay top value for him when a player is out of form, you have to bite the bullet after assessing your options and the market. We missed our chance with Whitnall when he came off a b&f. Is Fevola in the same boat?
All these things need to be considered and it's something I haven't got the answer to but its definitely not a notion I'd not even bother listening to like some of you others who have dismissed it outright.