The AFL on Friday afternoon stepped in to prevent Wayne Carey from being elevated to legend status in the NSW Australian Football Hall Of Fame.
The North Melbourne great was about to board his flight en route to Sydney on Friday afternoon before AFL CEO Andrew Dillon stepped in and called Carey personally to break the news to him.
The AFL has just launched a league-wide domestic violence campaign to create awareness and to spread the message that violence against women is completely unacceptable.
And as Sam Edmund explained on SEN, given Carey’s long history of domestic violence allegations and assault convictions, it’s hardly appropriate to celebrate him at the Hall of Fame.
“Huge story, the AFL knew a long time ago that Wayne Carey was one of 100 people that were going to be inducted into the NSW AFL Hall Of Fame on their inaugural night and from that group of 100 ten were going to be instantly made legends,” Edmund told SEN's Crunch Time.
“But the AFL didn’t know until lunchtime on Thursday that Wayne was going to be one of those ten and when they did become aware, they were shocked I’m told and they immediately looked to intervene.
“As they worked through it all at AFL house, Andrew Dillon said, ‘Nup I’m going to pick up the phone and I will call Wayne myself.
“Wayne Carey was actually at the airport when Andrew Dillon rang him just about ready to check in and take the flight to Sydney to take part in the event.
“I’m told he actually took it really well and he said ‘I understand and I don’t want to take anything away from the other 99 people inducted and the legends.
“Also around the league this weekend he didn’t want to take anything away from that and what the AFL is doing with the 18 clubs so he agreed not to attend at all.
“That’s where things sit with Wayne Carey.”
