AFL steps in to stop Wayne Carey being elevated to Legend status in NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame

Wayne Carey was not in attendance at a gala event for the NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame after last-minute intervention from the AFL to stop him being inducted as a legend.

The AFL has stepped in to block Wayne Carey from being elevated to Legend status during the inaugural intake for the NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame.

In March, it was announced that 100 people, including Carey, would be inducted into the newly created Hall of Fame for their significant contributions to the game of Aussie rules in NSW and the ACT.

AFL NSW/ACT communicated at the time that 10 people from that group would then be elevated to Legend status during a gala dinner on May 3 at the SCG.

Wayne Carey was not inducted as a legend.

However, during the event on Friday night, only nine were made legends.

In an initial recommendation list, seen by this masthead when the Hall of Fame was announced in March, Carey was one of 11 people clearly marked with Legend next to their name. The only other person not receiving the status on Friday is two-time Brownlow Medal winner Adam Goodes who declined an offer to be a part of the Hall of Fame earlier this year.

It’s been known in some circles for up to five months, but the AFL only became aware on Wednesday that AFL NSW/ACT was set to elevate Carey to Legend status. Andrew Dillon immediately took action, overruling the decision and phoning Carey to inform of the change.

The AFL stepped in to overrule Carey being elevated to a legend. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Carey agreed with the decision and did not attend the black-tie event at the SCG.

“The AFL acknowledge the decision by a committee of NSW football industry people to recognise Wayne Carey’s contribution on the football field as part of 100 inaugural inductees in the NSW Hall of Fame,” Dillon said in a statement.

“His contribution on the field is also why he was recognised in the AFL Hall of Fame in 2010.

“Yesterday afternoon the AFL Executive were alerted to the decision by the NSW Hall of Fame Committee for Carey to be elevated to Legend status.

“We didn’t think it was the right decision.

“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 not in attendance at the event. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Legend status for the NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame was “determined by a selection committee which considers the candidate’s outstanding service and overall contribution to the game”.

Hailing from Wagga Wagga, Carey had a 15-year AFL career and on the field is one of the best players to ever come from NSW. But his off-field actions have cast a long shadow over his reputation following a string of incidents involving abuse towards women.

In 1997, Carey pleaded guilty to indecent assault after he grabbed a passing woman’s breast and allegedly told her, ‘Why don’t you get a bigger pair of tits?’. The woman filed a civil suit against him which was later settled out of court.

A decade later in 2007, after Carey had retired, his then-girlfriend Kate Nielson accused him of smashing a wine glass against her face, cutting her mouth and neck while in Miami. A police report then confirmed that Carey lashed out when confronted by officers, kicking one officer in the mouth.

Wayne Carey and Kate Neilson in 2007.

Nielsen chose not to press charges, but Carey was convicted of assaulting the officer.

The decision to no longer elevate Carey to Legend status comes as the AFL launched a major campaign to highlight the levels of domestic violence against women.

Ahead of each match in round eight, players, coaches and umpires will stand together in unity for a moment’s silence as a tribute to women who have lost their lives to gender-based violence.

To make that powerful stand on the same weekend Wayne Carey is set to be inducted into the NSW Hall of Fame made it feel like an “empty” gesture according to National Women’s Safety Alliance executive director, Katherine Berney.

“Doesn’t it feel a bit empty when you then celebrate someone who has a history of harming women?,” Berney said.

“I think when people harm someone, that is their legacy. I don’t really care if they’ve got awards or anything like that, it makes no difference to me.

“He pleaded guilty to indecent assault … what a great guy to celebrate and amplify because he can kick a football. It’s disgusting.”

Carey has also not been elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame in the 14 years since he was inducted in 2010.

Originally published as AFL steps in to stop Wayne Carey being elevated to Legend status in NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame