Emily Olle: Wayne Carey’s powder controversy highlights the AFL’s misogyny problem

When it comes to Wayne Carey, the message is painfully clear. Domestic violence? All good buddy, you were a cracking footballer. But we draw the line at powdered anti-inflammatories.

In 1996, Wayne Carey – in the prime of his career after captaining North Melbourne to a grand final win over Sydney – grabbed a woman by the breasts outside a Sydney nightclub and told her, “why don’t you go and get a bigger set of t**s?”.

Carey pleaded guilty to indecent assault and the woman later settled a civil lawsuit against him over the incident.

In 2007, Carey was accused of smashing a wine glass in then-fiancee Kate Nielson’s face, cutting her mouth and neck, before lashing out and kicking a female police officer in the mouth during his subsequent arrest.

In 2008, a US security guard named Kyle Banks told A Current Affair he witnessed Carey smacking Ms Nielson in a separate incident in a New York hotel room in 2006.

While Carey admitted being mentally “abusive” and “intimidating” to past partners, he has denied ever physically hurting a woman.

Wayne Carey and Kate Neilson in 2007.

Wayne Carey reportedly received a healthy pay packet for his appearance on SAS Australia.

But amid a swirling sea of controversy, Carey – the man with two premierships and “nine lives” – has been offered chance after chance for redemption.

To those who decry ‘cancel culture’ for ruining the careers of sportsmen, I ask – what were the consequences of Carey’s actions thus far?

The answer – a plum commentary gig with Channel 7, a rebuilt radio career with Triple M and, earlier this year, a reportedly “monster” pay packet to appear on SAS Australia.

But on Monday, a straw finally broke the camel’s back when a tiny Ziploc bag of white powder allegedly fell out of his pocket on a gambling table at Perth’s Crown Hotel.

While Carey denies the substance was illegal, Channel 7 has stood him aside while an investigation takes place.

And that there is the rub. The message comes loud and clear for those who’ll listen: domestic abuse? All good buddy, you were a cracking footballer. But we draw the line at powdered anti-inflammatories.

It’s a tale as old as Essendon’s finals dry spell.

A video from Instagram showed Collingwood footballer Jordan De Goey partying in Bali with friends. Picture: Instagram

Whenever allegations of sexual harassment or violence against women arise in AFL media, they are crushed as “nothing stories” or “attention seeking” – depending on how well the bloke can kick a ball.

Last week, a tone-deaf tweet from an AFL journalist said Richmond star Dustin Martin, “who might be the greatest player ever”, was “facing criticism for an incident … because someone felt special spreading a video”.

The video in question shows Martin groping the breast of a topless woman at a private event.

Dancers told the Herald Sun that touching of the breasts was “not allowed in any context without permission, ever” in most clubs – especially if the act was not consensual.

When Jordan de Goey received a suspended fine for attempting to pull a friend’s top off and making vulgar sexual gestures while partying in Bali, one of the league’s biggest female powerbrokers – Bulldogs vice president Susan Alberti – said “enough was enough” when it came to disrespect towards women in the AFL.

De Goey also pleaded guilty to second degree harassment but dodged a conviction over a New York nightclub incident last year. He’s reportedly set to be offered a $3.2m contract at the end of the Pies’ season.

While Carey’s suspension is over alleged marching powder, not misogyny, maybe it’s time to heed Alberti’s message.

One of the greatest players ever – or not.