Wayne Carey says Nadia Bartel and Bec Judd don’t get enough credit

Wayne Carey has gone into bat for two high-profile WAGs, saying in his eyes they’ve comfortable outshone their superstar partners.

Wayne Carey believes Nadia Bartel and Bec Judd aren’t being given the credit they deserve for their incredibly successful careers.

The high-profile WAGs have outshone their footy partners in the eyes of Carey.

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In his new podcast, The Truth Hurts, Carey says the two women are incredible for what they’ve been able to achieve.

“They get knocked by a lot of people … how about give this woman the credit that she deserves to forge a career,” he said of Bartel.

“Obviously split up with Jimmy, was with him through the tough times, him as an AFL footballer.

“I know Nadia has made some mistakes – but who hasn’t made some mistakes – but the way she bounces back from those mistakes.

“Obviously a mother, Bec’s a mother, the amount of money that they’re making. You talk about 150 grand from Nike (that I got as a player), these girls are making that for a post.

“A hundred per cent they’re outstripping their partners.

“Both of those boys have retired now, no disrespect, both Brownlow Medallists, both superstars, both champions of the game, Nadia not respective partner anymore (but) those two girls are outshining and have outshone their superstar boyfriends.

“That’s where the game has changed and for the better.”

Bec at the 2022 Cox Plate. Picture: Supplied

Nadia at the Melbourne 2023 F1 Grand Prix. Source: Instagram /nadiabartel

The two are business partners in tanning company Spray Aus while Judd co-owns activewear brand Jaggad with Bartel founding fashion brand Henne.

Carey said the two had endured enormous amounts as the wives of football stars, labelling the AFL as a “selfish sport”.

“It’s the most selfish sport,” he said.

“When you’re a sportsman at the top level, you’re so selfish, everything is about you.

“It’s what you eat, it’s how much sleep you get, it’s where you can go, you’re told to be here, you’re told to be there.

“It really is a selfish sport. So what they go through as a partner of an AFL footballer is quite a bit.

“So then for Bec and Nadia to build careers off the ground is quite remarkable.”

Both are carving out impressive careers. Picture: Instagram

Both light up social media. Picture: Instagram

Carey hasn’t held back since launching his podcast, this week revealing details of the infamous 2002 tryst with teammate Anthony Stevens’ wife, Kelli.

He said he never considered apologising to Stevens in the days that followed the affair becoming public.

He said he made an ugly, kneejerk decision that he had to leave the football club immediately.

Former North coach Denis Pagan said it wounds him that his former players are not on speaking terms and have never mended their friendships back together.

Carey and Pagan have now shared their regrets about the furore.

Carey says on the podcast the pair had never spoken about it before.

Pagan said it wounds him that his former players are not on speaking terms and have never mended their friendships back together.

It was revealed in August Carey and Stevens were involved in a verbal stoush during North Melbourne’s reunion for the 1996 premiership team.

Carey insisted at the time the conversation was not heated.

It remains unclear if Carey has ever offered an apology to Stevens.

Stevens stayed silent for years about being betrayed by Carey before finally going on the record with veteran AFL journalist Mike Sheahan in 2015, telling Fox Footy Carey had never apologised to him. Carey has continued to refute the claim.

Originally published as Wayne Carey says Nadia Bartel and Bec Judd don’t get enough credit