Channel Nine’s Tony Jones has angrily told North Melbourne to ‘grow up’ over the club’s ‘disgraceful’ decision to omit Wayne Carey from a video released to celebrate an upcoming anniversary.
The former Kangaroos forward, who is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, was left out of a video shared by the club on Friday to mark the fact North will celebrate 100 seasons in the VFL/AFL next year.
The video clip showcased the club’s history and a special centenary guernsey that will be used in Round 20 – but it didn’t feature any footage of the 53-year-old, who has been embroiled in numerous controversies since his playing career ended in 2004.
‘It’s disgraceful that he hasn’t figured in that video on social media, Jones told radio 3AW on Monday.
‘He was deemed good enough to be put in their team of the century – why [does] a club like North Melbourne, that really strives for continual relevance, turn their back on someone like Wayne Carey?
‘Look, he’s done some stupid things, and the first person to say that would be Wayne Carey.
Wayne Carey’s omission from North Melbourne’s video promoting its upcoming 100th anniversary in top-flight footy proved controversial with fans – and a TV star
Channel Nine Footy Show host Tony Jones (pictured) said the Kangaroos need to ‘grow up’ after snubbing the man regarded as their greatest ever player
‘But surely people deserve a second, third chance, don’t they?’
When 3AW host Tom Elliott said the Kangaroos wouldn’t have won the 1996 and 1999 flags without ‘The King’, Jones agreed.
‘That’s right, and he’s still probably the greatest marketing tool they have,’ Jones said.
‘He still has this amazing presence. I only spoke to him last week, actually, and he’s in a really, really good place at the moment.
‘While this would be – pardon the pun – water off a duck’s back, I think it would hurt him, and I think the club needs to grow up a little bit and just recognise that they don’t have a lot of greats like, say, a Collingwood or a Carlton, and when you’ve got someone like Wayne Carey, embrace him.
‘Forgive him for his past sins – a lot of people won’t – but he’s done the crime and he’s done the time.
‘Move on, North Melbourne.’
Footy fans have also blown up about ‘The King’ not featuring in the clip.
Carey (pictured with girlfriend Jessica Paulke) has a long history of making headlines for all the wrong reasons
Known as ‘The King’, Carey (pictured with ex-teammate Anthony Stevens) played a huge role in taking the Roos to flag wins in 1996 and 1999
‘I’ve sent the club an email of my disgust,’ posted one X user.
‘This is embarrassing! How can you not have Wayne Carey in your video? Ridiculous,’ replied another.
‘Where the f**k is Wayne Carey … your greatest ever player?’ said a third.
Carey has made headlines for the wrong reasons on multiple occasions, including his notorious 2002 affair with teammate Anthony Stevens’ wife, which led to his departure from the North Melbourne Football Club.
In September last year he was kicked out of Perth’s Crown Casino after a bag containing an unidentified white powder fell out of his pocket while he was gambling.
Carey claimed the substance was crushed anti-inflammatory medication he was using to treat injuries he suffered on the field.
He was dumped from his jobs with Channel Seven and The Age newspaper over the incident.
In May, the AFL blocked Carey from receiving an honour at the NSW Hall of Fame ceremony.
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 this admission, Carey would captain North Melbourne to victory over Sydney in the AFL grand final that same year and go on to play 271 career games.
In 2007 the former Adelaide Crows 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.
Then in 2008 police were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue Carey after he assaulted officers in Port Melbourne.
Last month Carey appeared to reveal his new career in real estate as he appeared in a video promoting the sale of a luxury home in Victoria.
