Why the AFL has put Wayne Carey back on its Hall of Fame invite list

• Wayne Carey will attend AFL induction night in Melbourne
• Blocked from attending NSW Hall of Fame dinner on May 3
• Was a champion footy player, but plagued by off-field dramas

Footy great Wayne Carey was barred from attending the NSW Hall of Fame dinner earlier this month in Sydney – but the North Melbourne dual premiership-winner now finds himself back on the AFL invite list.

Carey, 53, will be a welcome guest at the code’s Hall of Fame induction night in Melbourne on June 18 – but won’t receive an award.

It comes after AFL CEO Andrew Dillon intervened hours before Carey was due attend the NSW Hall of Fame gala evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground on May 3, where he was to be elevated as a legend due to his on-field exploits.

Carey was informed the league felt it was ‘inappropriate’ for him to receive the honour as the AFL takes a very public stance on violence against women.

It came in the same week the AFL launched a domestic violence campaign to create awareness and to spread the message that violence against women is always unacceptable.

The Kangaroos great has been accused of shocking behaviour towards women during and after his decorated playing career.

But now it appears all is forgiven, with Carey said to be keen to attend the induction evening where Hawthorn icon Jason Dunstall will be elevated as the 32nd legend of the sport.

In 1996, Carey admitted to an indecent assault against a woman, which was settled out of court after he allegedly grabbed her breast on a Melbourne street.

Despite his admission, Carey then captained North Melbourne to victory over the Sydney Swans in the AFL grand final that same year.

In 2002, Carey infamously had an affair with the wife of his then-best friend and North Melbourne vice captain Anthony Stevens.

Then in 2007, the former Adelaide and North Melbourne star was arrested in the United States for allegedly breaking a wine glass in former fiancée Kate Neilson’s face.

Neilson refused to press charges but later said she was left ‘bleeding profusely from the mouth.’

Carey also pleaded guilty to two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer when he fought police after the incident with Neilson.

A year later, police were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue Carey after he assaulted officers in Port Melbourne.

And in 2022, Carey again attracted headlines after he was banned from all Crown venues when he was caught with a bag of white powder at the Perth casino when at the gambling tables.

He insisted the zip-bag contained ‘an anti-inflammatory that he took with dinner.’