Time On: “Putrid journalism”: Wayne Carey responds to claims about his return to North Melbourne
North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey has rubbished the reporting of his return to the club for its 100th year celebrations, as he prepares to reunite with Anthony Stevens and Glenn Archer.
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‘Putrid journalism’: Carey hits back at claims about his return to North
North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey has hit back at the reporting of his return to the club for its 100th year celebrations, labelling it “putrid journalism”.
Caroline Wilson revealed on The Agenda Setters that Carey was set to return to the Kangaroos to celebrate their 100th anniversary at the Round 17 match at Marvel Stadium, reuniting with other club greats Anthony Stevens and Glenn Archer.
“All three men are well aware that they will be there together and united for the first time,” Wilson said.
“There was speculation last year when North unveiled its centenary jumper and if you remember there were North champions from through the eras and there was no Wayne Carey.
“And Corey McKernan I remember was very upset about this.
“In 2022 a year late they had their 25 year premiership reunion from the ‘96 flag and there was an altercation at a pub between Anthony Stevens and Wayne Carey; we know the history there.
“They had to be separated, I don’t think it was physical but it was not nice and when there was a motorcade the next day at Marvel Stadium, Anthony Stevens wasn’t there and Wayne Carey was.
“So the club has worked really hard to get all these guys within the fold and clearly you can’t celebrate your 100th anniversary without Wayne Carey being there.”
Carey had an affair with Stevens’ former wife Kellie in 2002.
But Carey took to X on Wednesday to hit out at the “putrid journalism”.
“Just for what it’s worth I’ve gone to at least 10 big functions over the last 25 years,” he wrote.
“What another example of putrid journalism. No wonder some people can’t move on … YES 25 yrs.”
Just for what it’s worth I’ve gone to at least 10 big functions over the last 25 years 😊 What another example of putrid journalism.. No wonder some people can’t move on … YES 25 yrs
— Wayne Carey (@waynecarey27) May 21, 2025
Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge said it was important for North supporters that Carey attended the celebrations.
“He’s captained two premierships – for him not to be at a 100 year celebration I think a lot of supporters would walk away upset about that,” he said.
“All clubs have hiccups, all clubs have disagreements … but the club is bigger than anyone.”
Wilson said Archer and Stevens both had sons on the Kangaroos’ senior list.
She said Carey had been going to North training with his children who might well end up playing for the Kangaroos as well.
“I think it’s been a slow and steady overture,” she said.
“He would say he was never banned from the club but at times probably didn’t feel all that welcome.”
‘Nearly fell off the couch’: Hird responds to bombshell coaching claims
Essendon coach Brad Scott will come face-to-face with club great James Hird who was at the centre of a stunning rumour circulating during the TV wars on Monday night.
Caroline Wilson reported on The Agenda Setters that Hird harbours hopes to return as coach, a position he served in between 2011 and 2015.
Wilson said any return to coaching for Hird would likely come in tandem with former club chairman Paul Little also returning to power at the club.
“We can reveal that Paul Little, the former chairman of Essendon and very generous benefactor who was there as chairman during 2013, 2014 and 2015, those acrimonious days, has not ruled out, in fact has left the door very much open to a return to the Essendon board,” Wilson said.
“A return that, in my view, would include James Hird as coach.
“All year, this story has been festering.
“We started to hear when the club re-signed Brad Scott until the end of 2027 that there was some unrest from some of the old guard, who weren’t happy about the re-signing. They didn’t think it was necessary.
“My belief is that James still harbours an ambition to coach Essendon. I am absolutely convinced of that.”
However, Hird gave a statement to Nine’s Footy Classified, which aired after The Agenda Setters, saying it came out of nowhere and he was shocked.
“It’s news to me and I haven’t spoken to Paul Little for months. I nearly fell of the couch when I heard it,” he said.
Little provided Channel 7 with a statement himself, saying “you never say never to anything” and that there “may come a time when there is a need for a restructure”.
“If I felt I could add value to the club, and if they felt I could help, then I would consider it.”
On Hird, he said: “I consider him a friend both inside, but more importantly, outside of football.”
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said his old club would be frustrated.
“It’s not good for the club,’’ Lloyd said on Footy Classified. “James obviously denied that, and you believe James in that situation, and this is what happens when you lose by 91 points, unfortunately things like this happen, whether it’s from a coterie member or someone around the club.
“It’s the last thing those within the football club need because they just want to get on with being the club they hope to be.”
Hird coached the Bombers for 85 games including during the supplement saga that rocked the club.
He is currently serving as an assistant coach for VFL club Port Melbourne.
Scott will join Hird on the Footy Classified panel on Tuesday night.
North Melbourne defender’s hard launch with ex-teammate’s sister
North Melbourne’s Charlie Comben has hard launched his relationship, revealing his glamorous partner publicly for the first time.
The wins keep coming for the reliable defender, who helped his team to a breakthrough win on Saturday at the MCG.
On his 200 Plus podcast, he’d been grilled over not yet posting Liv Taylor to social media and going “Insta-official”.
“I’ve found myself a lovely girlfriend … I don’t have to validate my relationship in the eyes of other people,” Comben said.
But the pressure mounted, with a spot on Nova’s Jase and Lauren ending up with Taylor, who was in the car, brought into the studio.
“I’m gonna get around to it (posting her),” the star insisted.
Taylor, the sister of former Roos player Curtis Taylor, said: “I think this is the hardest of hard launches there is.”
Hird’s call for help
James Hird made a passionate plea on Sunday for the AFL to do more to support players after they retire.
“The support past players get after they retire … when they get to 40 or when they get to 50, I just don’t think is there,’’ Hird said on Footy Furnace.
“A lot of players get through their careers, they get out and they’re fine. But there are a lot that aren’t. I really believe that more needs to be done by the AFL, the AFLPA, the clubs, to help players who haven’t quite filled the void that AFL football had for them.”
Hird, who has himself battled mental health issues, said he isn’t criticising the AFLPA, he just wants to see more being done.
“This is not a criticism of the AFLPA because I do genuinely believe they do a great job across a lot of different parts and having been a benefit of that myself,’’ he continued.
“But more needs to be done. More and more players who had full time careers, who didn’t have anything else in their life. Any trade, any education, have got to a point in their life where self worth, identity, is not there. And I just think more needs to be done. Because a lot of these players have done great things for the game and they need some help.”
Tribute for who?
The sad news about Adam Selwood’s passing has led to an outpouring of grief.
And it’s also led to some mistakes with Adam’s late twin brother Troy mentioned in his place.
Social media erupted over the tribute given by local Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO at the start of Saturday night’s clash between the Western Bulldogs and Essendon.
She paid her respects to the Selwood family amid the tragedy during her Welcome to Country at Marvel Stadium as part of Sir Doug Nicholls round.
However, she mentioned the death of Troy Selwood, mistaking him for his twin brother.
On Channel 9 news on Sunday night the intro delivered by Peter Hitchener showed “Tribute to Troy” despite the background showing the footy tribute in Perth that read “vale Adam Selwood.”
Bennetts binocular bungle
Commentator Jason Bennett did something he’s never done in 25 years — he forgot his binoculars.
Calling alongside Brian Taylor for Seven’s coverage of Brisbane v Melbourne on Sunday, he had to improvise with help from a colleague.
“For 1st in 25yrs, I forgot my binoculars,’’ Bennett wrote on X.
“Fortunately our floor manager Alex went & borrowed his father-in-law’s. Unfortunately this classic pair no longer works as it should, so I covered one lens & called with one eye shut! Pro tip: Don’t forget your binoculars.”
Many followers were quick to point out the obvious: There are “plenty of one eyed commentators out there”
Originally published as Time On: “Putrid journalism”: Wayne Carey responds to claims about his return to North Melbourne
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