What happened when Wayne Carey met Anthony Stevens in Melbourne

WAYNE Carey has revealed how the AFL’s greatest feud was ended, opening up about the moment he looked Anthony Stevens in the eye.

Feud over.

FOURTEEN years after their famous fallout, Wayne Carey and Anthony Stevens have moved to repair their broken relationship.

Carey on Friday revealed how the most scandalous rift in the AFL was mended this week ahead of the North Melbourne 1996 premiership 20-year reunion gala event at the MCG on Friday night.

Carey and Stevens spectacularly fell out after Carey’s extra-marital affair with Stevens’ former wife Kelli Stevens became public knowledge in early 2002.

The scandal rocked the AFL and Carey was forced out of the club in disgrace.

It is only now the wounds are beginning to heal.

The pair’s re-connection was first put on the agenda when Stevens told Fox Footy’s Open Mike last September he had never received a genuine apology from his former teammate.

The wheels began to move behind the scenes from then on.

The Kangaroos’ 1999 premiership reunion in 2009 was overshadowed by the tension between Stevens and Carey, prompting an effort from teammates, led by Glenn Archer, to end the feud before this weekend’s reunion for everybody elses sake.

Premiership teammates.

Archer was reportedly given permission by Stevens to contact Carey to test the waters of ending the quarrel.

Archer and Carey’s relationship had also broken down as a result of the 2002 scandal until they caught up in Bali last week.

Their conversation led to Archer organising for Stevens and Carey to meet face-to-face on Thursday.

They met at a private room inside the North Melbourne Football Club on Arden Street. Just the two of them and Carey’s one-year-old daughter Charlotte.

As simple as that, the estranged teammates agreed to end their row.

All it took was an apology.

“As we know, Stevo said on Open Mike a little while ago that he thought that I hadn’t properly apologised so that is where it started,” Carey told Triple M Melbourne.

“A heartfelt apology. That’s where it started and that’s where it ended.

Old wounds.

“What will happen now is we’ll all be able to be in a room together and be in a conversation all together and be able to laugh, and smile and enjoy the company and the special people that created what was one of the most special days in our lives. That’s where it finished, with a handshake.

“The positive thing is that we can all go to the premiership reunion tomorrow and we can all be totally at ease and everyone there can just feel great about what was one of the best days of our lives, other than having children. You play sport to win premierships. That was our first and we can now thoroughly enjoy it.”

He admitted to having concerns about the impact his presence would have on fellow teammates at the reunion.

“I’d be lying if I said before I caught up with Arch that there wasn’t some, not negative thoughts, but concerns,” he said.

“There were concerns. Now obviously all of those concerns are gone. That’s the great thing.

“You’ll never forget (the affair) and it’s something that will live with me forever, as I’m sure it will a lot of people, which is still sad and I still live with that, but we can go to the event on Saturday and just have a smile on our faces and laugh and people can feel really good about being there.”

Carey initially disputed Stevens’ declaration that he had never received an apology for the betrayal.

The seven-time All Australian said in September he has apologised to Stevens many times and even accused his teammate of choosing not to listen.

Carey told Channel 7’s Talking Footy his preference was not to organise a meeting with Stevens because of the way it would impact his own headspace.

“I’ve never wanted or asked for the forgiveness of the key people that were involved in that,” he said.

“Some have forgiven and some haven’t and I totally understand that.

“I haven’t forgiven myself. I’ve put a lot of work in and I’ve spoken to a lot of people and I continue to speak to a lot of people. The Wayne Carey that sits in front of you now is different to what was 13 years ago, five years ago.

“It’s an ongoing thing and I continue to work on that. That’s why I probably don’t tend to look back now. I tend to look forward. I’m in a much better place.”