All hail the King!

[Brad Roo]

After a long drawn out battle with political correctness, the King has finally taken his throne.

WAYNE Carey made an emotional tribute to his family, teammates and former wife after he was finally inducted into the AFL's Hall of Fame.

The controversial former North Melbourne captain and dual premiership star had been overlooked by the AFL's selection panel in the past two years after his string of off-field indiscretions overshadowed his football career.
But the champion's on-field exploits were celebrated last night with his elevation to football's most esteemed honour roll, receiving a warm reception from the packed room at Crown casino.

Carey thanked his coaches, teammates and his family, but also paid a special tribute to his ex-wife, Sally. "I would also like to finish with my ex-wife, Sally. It certainly wouldn't have been possible to do what I did during my football career if it wasn't for her," Carey said.

"I thank her, we have a wonderful relationship now. We have a beautiful daughter, Ella, which drives me to this day and I'm thankful for her support. She would have been here tonight, but we didn't want to end up in Confidential. It's the only reason she's not here."
While Carey had to wait a couple of years to be elevated, he said he would have been happy to wait much longer for the honour.

"A few people have said that to me about this two-year wait. I met (dual Brownlow medallist) Peter Moore for the first time about three or four weeks ago at a function and he only got inducted two years ago," Carey said.

"Looking around this room, it's just a huge honour to be inducted. I would have been more than happy to wait five years. "I'm thrilled to be standing here now. Congratulations to the other inductees tonight and it's a huge honour to be standing here right now."

Carey played 244 games and kicked 671 goals for the Kangaroos, who he captained to premierships in 1996 and 1999. He then moved interstate in 2003 and played 28 games with the Adelaide Crows before retiring from the competition.

Carey's Hall of Fame nod followed a career of individual highlights including four best-and-fairests, two AFL MVP awards and the honour of captaining North Melbourne's Team of the Century.

But Carey said he wouldn't have had any of it without his North Melbourne teammates. "One reason I am here is because we were a very good side, the Kangaroos in the '90s, that gets overlooked. "We played in seven preliminary finals in a row, three of those grand finals, and it's for that reason I stand here with their support in that time."

 

[Brad Roo]

Induction caps off Kangaroo Carey's colourful career

MARTIN BOULTON

June 4, 2010

THREE years after becoming eligible and six years after walking away from the game Wayne Carey was last night inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest, most spectacular players ever to pull on a pair of football boots, Carey courted controversy for much of his career and beyond.


Last night's gala presentation at Crown in Melbourne brought to an end the debate surrounding Carey's eligibility, just as it did five years ago when another flawed star of the game, Gary Ablett snr, was inducted.
Carey, 39, captained North Melbourne for nine years after he was appointed at the age of 21.


He went on to lead the club to two premierships and collected seven All-Australian jumpers before his life unravelled in the wake of an affair with the wife of teammate and vice-captain Anthony Stevens.
A further two years of football followed at Adelaide before Carey hung up his boots, but he was never far from controversy in his post-football life - suffering depression and turning to drugs and alcohol as his personal life continued making headlines.


Known to former teammates as ''the Duck'' because of his distinctive walk, Carey last night stepped into the company of the game's most celebrated players.

 

[Brad Roo]

Carey inducted into AFL Hall of Fame

ROGER VAUGHAN

June 4, 2010 - 6:17AM
AAP

Kevin Murray is an AFL legend, but Wayne Carey remains The King. As Murray became the 23rd official legend of the game, Carey was among six inductees to the Hall Of Fame on Thursday night in Melbourne. After several off-field scandals, Carey, nicknamed King during his playing days, was again an imposing figure as he accepted the accolades for one of the game's greatest playing careers.

In an often-humorous and touching acceptance speech, the last person the centre half-forward paid tribute to was his ex-wife Sally, the mother of his daughter Ella. "We've had discussions over the last couple of weeks, would she come, wouldn't she come - in the end, she said it would be a little bit too emotional for her," he said after the function. "I totally understand that, if I had been there, it may have been too emotional for me. "She's been a great support - it goes without saying, without a partner's support, when you play football it's a very selfish game at times ... a lot of sacrifices and she did so much. "The other reason, as I said, she wasn't there was we didn't want any rumours or anything going around the next day either."

Carey has battled alcohol and drug abuse but the 38-year-old looks extremely fit and was thrilled to receive the honour. "As an individual honour, this is definitely No.1 ... I'm absolutely thrilled and honoured to be now a part of it," he said. "As I said in my speech, you play football to play in premierships and they'll always outweigh pretty-much everything you achieve, but as an individual honour, I'm rapt. "The last couple of years have been great, it's ongoing and I'm glad to be back in Melbourne. "I travel back to Queensland but back in Melbourne and around my daughter a lot and keeping busy, which is something I'm enjoying."

Carey became eligible for Hall Of Fame induction in 2008 but the character clause in the selection criteria meant he had to wait. He admitted the induction was even better than he expected. "The build-up, i never really felt it, to be honest ... it's not something that when you retire, you think 'oh well, I might be inducted into the Hall Of Fame'," he said. "There was always speculation about it, when I got the phone call, the letter actually went to the wrong house, so I actually got a phone call and was told about it. "But when I got that, I must admit, I was thrilled and everyone I spoke to before coming here tonight said it will be a marvellous night. "I must admit, you come in preparing what I may be like and when I got here, it was even more so."

Pivotal people in his career, including his long-time North Melbourne coach Denis Pagan, former Kangaroos chief executive Greg Miller and his former manager Ricky Nixon were on Carey's table for the induction dinner. "They've been there through the good and the bad - I thought it was important to have people who were instrumental in my football career," Carey said.

The other inductees were Brownlow Medallists Gavin Wanganeen and Ross Smith, WA football legend Stan Heal, Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw and five-time Melbourne premiership player Brian Dixon.

 

[theduckfan]

Really does seem like a changed man. It's good that he has his daughter their motivating him on a daily basis. Lets get this man down to the club, promote the club or coaching role, whatever, just get him down to the club.

Congratulations Wayne, Much deserved crowning.

 

[muttley45]

Really does seem like a changed man. It's good that he has his daughter their motivating him on a daily basis. Lets get this man down to the club, promote the club or coaching role, whatever, just get him down to the club.

Congratulations Wayne, Much deserved crowning.

here here,congratulations duck,eventually you will be legend as well,

cop that COWRO

 

[gokangas]

The best ever - no question, no doubt. We will never see one as good as him in my time. Congratulations Duck.

 

[NMFC 1811]

Its fantastic to see the greatest player of them all get due recognition .

Onya Duck , can't wait to see him doing the lap of the ground at the Carlton game .

 

[Twinkletoes]

I'm so glad to see him finally recognised officially, and to see him getting his private life in order. He's in a much better place than he was a couple of years ago.

Absolute superstar!

(ps. links for the articles please BR, cheers)

 

[Hunters Host #3]

Very happy for him!!!

A great moment for all North Melbourne supporters. Wasn't sure about Tim's question about Wayne playing his career at North Melbourne and if he would have preferred to have had it any other way. Regardless, a great moment for the Duck. He continues to look happier.

Thought Tony Shaw's acceptance speech was good also.

 

[kangafruity]

Does anyone know if the whole show will be replayed at all?
I have checked the Foxtel guide and can't find it

 

[RooDude]

One of the greatest players I have ever seen play the game. I got so much enjoyment laughing at my mates who hated him. But alas this is the reason we have such a poor supporter base. During our golden era we had an arrogant as f captain who other supporters hated, especially the women. He was only loved by North supporters. True footy supporters admired what he did but most punters couldn't stand him. What he did too his best mate just confirmed their thoughts.

My view is that he should never come back to our club in any formal capacity. I'm willing to forgive what he did but I wont forget.

Well done Duck on a fantastic career...up to that moment.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Does anyone know if the whole show will be replayed at all?
I have checked the Foxtel guide and can't find it

I haven't seen or heard anything on it being replayed but I hope it is.

 

[Dan]

Champion.....best player I have ever seen

Long live the king

 

[Devil Fish]

Yeah great stuff by The King/Colossus - The joy he brought to NM supporters in the '90's should NEVER be forgotten. I still remember, & always will, the excitement of going to a game in the '90's just buzzing about what The Duck would dish up that afternoon/night. And no matter who we played or where, we were always a chance to win with Carey in the side.
How I miss those days.

Wonder what the Wilson sisters (Caro & Rebecca) make of Careys induction - surely it's immoral.

 

[johnson252525]

great stuff carey