AFL legend Dermott Brereton exposes ugly truth of Wayne Carey storm
One of Wayne Carey’s fiercest rivals has spoken out after the premiership winner was sensationally snubbed by his former club.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dermott Brereton has spoken out after Wayne Carey was sensationally snubbed by his former club on Friday.
A storm erupted over the weekend after the Kangaroos premiership winner was nowhere to be seen in a promotional video the club released celebrating its 100-year history in VFL/AFL competition.
North Melbourne great Corey McKernan is among those that have called the club out for its decision to overlook the 53-year-old, who played 244 games for the club.
Watch every game of the NAB AFL Women’s Finals Series LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Brereton, one of Carey’s big rivals in the 1990s, on Monday pointed out the football club is caught between a rock and hard place when it comes to its connection with the former Channel 7 commentator.
“If you are trying to get your very best players that were representative of your team as players, Wayne Carey sits top of the list and I would have thought there would be a place for him in that video,” Brereton said on SEN Breakfast.
“But the club has a decision to make. Do we put that piece of footage of Wayne in there and we know we will have to defend our actions in doing so?
“And that’s the battle that they have moving forward and they’ve made a stance that, no, they don’t want to defend their actions of putting his profile there in that commercial.”
The decision to leave Carey out shows the club’s new direction is to leave the former centre half forward in the past.
Brereton, a popular AFL commentator and analyst with Fox Footy, also defended Carey’s character.
The Hawthorn cult hero also did not overlook Carey’s list of behavioural issues, which includes allegations of domestic violence.
“I know Wayne he’s a good guy,” Brereton said.
“He’s made some really bad decisions in the past and he has confessed and copped up to some of them.
“He’s a good guy and he makes so many people around him happy... He’s fantastic, he’s a pretty good citizen who has made some bad errors.”
The Kangaroos’ problem with Carey also came to a head in 2022 when there was an altercation between him and Anthony Stevens.
The former captain’s ex-wife Kelli Stevens famously had an affair with Carey, which ultimately ended with Carey being forced out of the club in a scandal that rocked the league.
Carey denied reports an altercation with Stevens turned physical during North Melbourne’s 1996 premiership reunion.
The gathering was to celebrate 25 years since the club’s 1996 premiership - an event delayed because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Carey’s complex place in history of Australian football also came to a head this year when scandal surrounded his position in the NSW Australian Hall of Fame.
Carey became part of the inaugural inductees to the NSW AFL Hall of Fame in May.
However, the two-time premiership winner was also reportedly set to become one of 10 inductees elevated to Legend status — until the AFL intervened.
Not only was Carey blocked from achieving Legend status, but after consultation with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, the former Kangaroos skipper did not attend the gala night at all.
The NSW gala had fallen on the same weekend as the AFL honoured victims of gender-based violence at games across the league, sparking outrage in a number of circles.
There have previously been allegations of domestic violence against Carey.
He has also been convicted of assault.
Carey eventually clarified it was his decision to skip the event after speaking with Dillon.
Carey in 2022 was let go by Channel 7 after he had been escorted out of Crown Perth when a small bag containing a powdered substance fell out of his pocket.
Carey was cleared of any wrongdoing.
He has since bounced back with a popular podcast and has made plenty of headlines for his critical analysis of how the game has become soft following changes in rule interpretations and other aspects of the sport.
Earlier, North Melbourne was widely criticised for its decision to snub Carey.
Carey kicked 671 goals during his 13-seasons with the club and was the key piece in the Kangaroos’ premierships in 1996 and 1999.
McKernan on Twitter wanted answers from the club after seeing his teammate snubbed in such a sensational way.
The video showed the club’s proud history of guernsey changes it has undergone since entering the competition in 1925 — building up to a special centenary guernsey it will feature during a Round 20 clash with Geelong at Marvel Stadium.
The new threads were modelled by Roos player Zane Duursma.
The heritage jumper comes complete with traditional collars and a white “vee”.
The omission of Carey is, however, what has stood out the most.
McKernan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “FYI North Melbourne, you do now Wayne Carey played for us, don’t you?”
He wrote in a different post: “Explain how it happens? If the excuse is “ oh it’s a young kid who did it and he didn’t know” please spare me”.
In another tweet, he wrote: “Can North Melbourne answer why you’d leave out Wayne Carey for a football related video for such an occasion?”
He also questioned why premiership coach Denis Pagan and club great Wayne Schimmelbusch were not featured.
Collingwood great Mick McGuane also questioned the club’s decision to forget Carey.
“Love the concept and innovation North Melbourne, but if it’s a “true” celebration you cannot overlook your greatest ever player in the vision to promote it”.
The video did feature the likes of Ben Cunnington, Drew Petrie, Daniel Wells, David King, Brent Harvey, Ron Barassi and John Longmire.
Carey’s only competition for the title of being the club’s greatest player, Malcolm Blight, was given a significant position.
“Shinboner of the Century” Glenn Archer also wasn’t forgotten.
Originally published as AFL legend Dermott Brereton exposes ugly truth of Wayne Carey storm
’Very silly’: AFL experts gobsmacked by deal
One club has emerged as big winners of the AFL Draft after pulling off a late deal that appears to have put a rival in serious trouble.
Why Crows wanted the kid who really wanted them
In the build up to the draft, rival clubs were split on what the Crows would do – take the homegrown talent or the powerful Victorian. But the decision was about far more than that.