BRENDAN Fevola will be offered a new contract of more than one year if Carlton coach Brett Ratten has his way.

Fevola's contract expires at the end of 2008 and Ratten expects the club to begin negotiations over its spearhead's future in the next month.

Fevola was read the riot act by the Blues in March after he drunkenly urinated on the window of a bar in Prahran.

The Age reported last month that some within the Carlton camp believe Fevola should only be offered a one-year deal in an effort to ensure he behaves himself off the field in the future.

But Ratten indicated yesterday that Fevola has made a strong contribution to the club in 2008 and is likely to be offered a longer contract.

"I think if we offer Brendan a contract it probably would be more than one year, but we'll just wait and see what comes out on the table," Ratten said.

"We all know what he did earlier in the year and that's still hanging over his head, but as I've stated before, Brendan's done everything right by the team — he had that one incident — and his form's been outstanding this season."

It is likely that Fevola would be vigorously pursued by other clubs if the Blues do not offer him a multi-year contract. It is believed any formal negotiations will have to wait until Fevola has secured Velocity Sports, the sports management group run by Michael Voss and Alastair Lynch, as his management.

In selection news, Ratten indicated former Brisbane Lion Richard Hadley is likely to return from a groin injury to face his old club at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

"If he gets through today's session, then he should be right to play," Ratten said. "It's good for players playing against their old team and get a chance to send a message back to that group."

Other possible returns are ruckmen Cain Ackland, who has recovered from a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season, and Shaun Hampson.

With the Blues one game out of the eight after the first seven rounds, Ratten said he was pleased with his charges' progress so far, but was not ready to make any pronouncements on the success of his coaching tenure.

"I think you've got to look at it more at the end of the season instead of in round seven … are we heading in the right direction? We think we are, but we'll review it at the end of the season," Ratten said.

He said the Blues' round-three loss to Essendon, when they were beaten by 16 points despite have a two-goal lead late in the third quarter, was a turning point.