Wayne Carey breaks silence on Hall of Fame no-show ‘circus’

Wayne Carey has opened up on his decision not to attend a Hall of Fame induction earlier this year, sharing his disappointment at missing out.

Wayne Carey says he was “disappointed” not to be at the NSW Australian Hall of Fame night earlier this year, but insists it was his decision not to attend the event.

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.

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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.

The North Melbourne great has a history littered with allegations of domestic violence, along with assault convictions, with many pointing out the hypocrisy of the 53-year-old being feted on the same weekend as they remembered victims of domestic violence.

Now Carey has revealed Dillon did speak to him, but claimed the AFL boss never asked him not to attend the event, only that there had been no discussion about Carey being inducted as a Legend.

Wayne Carey didn’t attend the NSW Hall of Fame night. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“I got a phone call from a young man at AFL NSW and he said would you accept a call from Andrew Dillon,’’ Carey told his Uncensored with Wayne Carey podcast.

“I was at the airport about to fly up to Sydney and said ‘Of course I’ll accept the phone call’ and we had that phone call.

“It was very brief to be honest, in the end it was, still go along and he said basically the conversation was … there wasn’t a discussion in and around me being inducted as a legend. “That I would still be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He said that hadn’t crossed their desk, which I find hard to believe to be honest, but that’s neither here nor there.

“He mentioned still go along, you’re going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, (but) I don’t want to detract from the rest of the players that were being inducted whether it be legend or just into the Hall of Fame. It would have become a circus.

“And the focus would have been around me unfortunately for them, so I made the decision not to go. I felt that was the right one for everyone at that function.”

Carey says it was his choice not to attend. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

He won two flags with North Melbourne. Photo: Michael Klein.

Carey insists it was his decision not to end the function, explaining he was sad to miss seeing some of his footy idols get inducted.

“From what I hear it was an amazing function, everyone had a great night and I move on,’’ he said.

“I’ve lost no sleep over it. It sat with me for a little while, was there a little disappointment, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t.

“I sit very comfortable with not attending the night and I heard great things. My hero from when I was eight, nine, 10 years old — Laurie Pendrick — got inducted that night. So I was a little bit disappointed that I didn’t get to go and see him be inducted and obviously a fellow Wagga Wagga boy in Paul Kelly being inducted as a legend.

“So from a selfish point of view I would have liked to see those guys enjoy the night.”

“No, I wasn’t blocked from attending. That was my choice. I still flew up to Sydney by the way and spent the weekend there,” he said.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said at the time: “I called Wayne Carey earlier this morning to inform him of this and he agreed that being made a legend would take away from the event and the important focus on the national response to the issue of gender-based violence against women,

“He also agreed the focus should be on the inaugural inductees and the nine legends of NSW Football that will be announced tonight.”

Carey was later given the all clear to attend June’s Australian Football Hall of Fame function, where his former contemporary Jason Dunstall was elevated to Legend status.