Brendan Fevola on Hackett's drama: 'That could have been me!'

Reformed AFL bad boy Brendan Fevola says he was supposed to be in Grant Hackett's place on the plane where the former swimming champion was involved in a mid-flight altercation.

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The 35-year-old Olympian was questioned by Australian Federal Police after he was involved in an altercation with another passenger on a Virgin Australia flight from Adelaide to Melbourne.

Fevola, who recently took out the latest season of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! also told Fifi and Dave on their breakfast radio he was supposed to be speaking at the function in Adelaide instead of the swimmer.

"I do feel sorry for Grant because he was speaking at a function...and about a month ago they asked me to do it and I declined," he revealed on air.

"So Grant did what you were supposed to do ? This is essentially your fault?" a shocked Fifi asked.

"I’m sort of glad I didn’t do the thing, that could have been me!" Fevola responded.

The footy player has had a number of run-ins with the law, including attempted theft, public nuisance and obstructing police, and says he knows how tough it can be in the spotlight when altercations occur.

"He would be pretty depressed at the moment," Fevola said of Hackett's likely state of mind after the incident.

"When I’ve been in trouble before and it comes out in the paper, you just lock yourself in the house. Your phone rings, there’s cameramen outside your house, they’re taking photos and you do just think, 'What have I done?'".

While no cause of the incident - which allegedly occurred when the passenger in front of Hackett reclined his seat - has been revealed, Fevola did have his own guesses.

"At the end of the day, it all comes down to drinking," he said.

Hackett's life spiralled after he previously retired from top-level swimming in 2008, undergoing rehab in 2014 after seeking help for an addiction to sleeping pills.

He had a messy divorce and there were also allegations he smashed up his Melbourne apartment.

“I seriously and genuinely regret my poor behaviour. I have stuffed up more than once and am working on these issues," Hackett told Yahoo 7 Entertainment.

"It is embarrassing to hear and read the consequences of my actions. I apologise unreservedly to the gentleman on the flight.

"I am trying to make direct contact with him personally. I know I have to front the media and discuss my actions in a more appropriate and accountable way. I just have to sort a few things first so I can be as frank and open as I need to be. I apologise for the inconvenience.”

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