Why a ceremony honouring footy greats including Wayne Carey could not have come at a worse time for the AFL

Just one day after the AFL released its ‘zero tolerance’ stance on domestic violence, a player accused of appalling behavior towards women will be honored in a shocking appearance for the league.

Wayne Carey will become one of the first former players inducted into the newly formed NSW Hall of Fame on Friday, despite his shocking off-field record.

It comes on the heels of the AFL opposing domestic and family violence and one in six Australian women experiencing physical or sexual violence at the hands of a current or former partner.

Port Adelaide and Crows players and match officials linked arms for a minute’s silence ahead of their derby clash on Thursday evening in honor of all women killed by gender-based violence.

All round eight matches will feature the same ceremony, but AFL fans have wondered how real it is.

Adelaide and Port Adelaide players join match officials in observing a minute’s silence for victims of gender-based violence in Australia before their match on Thursday evening

Tarryn Thomas could return to the AFL in 2025 despite repeated allegations over his treatment of women and pleading guilty to threatening to distribute intimate videos of a former partner

Firstly, they questioned the timing of the stand when the AFL is poised to let Tarryn Thomas back despite the former North Melbourne star pleading guilty to threatening to distribute intimate videos of a former partner, and was accused of making threats of violence against women.

Now the integrity of the position has been further eroded as Carey was honored at a gala ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday afternoon.

AFL legend Tony Lockett, the Daniher brothers, Terry, Neale, Anthony and Chris and former Sydney captains Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack will also be honoured.

Carey was previously a commentator for Channel Seven, on radio for Triple M and a columnist for The Age, before admitting in early 2023 that his days in mainstream media were over.

It came after he was kicked out of Perth’s Crown casino, where a small bag containing a powdery substance fell from his pocket. Carey was banned from Crown premises for two years, despite denying it was an illegal substance.

Sydney Swans and St Kilda champion Tony Lockett will join Carey among the first 100 players inducted into the NSW Hall of Fame

Carey was accused of sexual assault in 1996, after which the case was settled out of court. That same year he won the premiership with North Melbourne (pictured)

That was the latest in a long line of indiscretions dating back to 1996, when Carey admitted to committing an indecent assault against a woman, which was settled out of court after he allegedly grabbed her breast on a Melbourne street.

Despite this admission, Carey would captain North Melbourne to victory over Sydney in the AFL grand final that same year, playing 271 career games.

In 2002, Carey infamously had an affair with the wife of his then best friend and North Melbourne vice-captain Anthony Stevens.

In 2007, the former Adelaide and North Melbourne star was arrested in the United States for allegedly breaking a wine glass in former fiancée Kate Neilson’s face.

Neilson declined to press charges but later said she was “bleeding profusely from the mouth.”

Carey also pleaded guilty to two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer when he fought police after the incident with Neilson.

In 2008, police were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue Carey after he attacked officers in Port Melbourne.

Despite these indiscretions, Carey was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2010.

He was then welcomed by the sport with open arms in 2014 to begin a media career that eventually culminated in 2023.

Carey leaves Melbourne court with his then partner Kate Neilson in 2009

For all his indiscretions, Carey would play 271 AFL matches and win two premierships.

Like the AFL Hall of Fame, the New South Wales equivalent can discount players on the grounds of ‘integrity, sportsmanship and character’.

AFL chief Andrew Dillon stated this week that: ‘When it comes to violence against women, the only acceptable figure is zero.’

But he has also advocated for the NSW Hall of Fame – and Carey’s induction into it.

“Australian football in NSW has a deeper history than many realise,” he said.

“Congratulations to the Hall of Fame inductees, each has played a significant role in improving football in NSW.

“I look forward to learning more about these many greats and hearing their stories in the coming months and years, as footy culture continues to permeate across NSW.”