Some very interesting developments in the AFL during the past 24 hours. One of the best players of the modern era and the Kangaroos captain Wayne Carey has quit the game after having an affair with his vice-captains wife.
:nono:
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Kangaroos captain Wayne Carey has quit the club, and for 2002 at least, AFL football, following an incident at a private function over the weekend that enraged his teammates Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens and left him on the outer with the rest of the club.
A clearly shattered Carey, battling back tears, announced his resignation at the Melbourne office of his manager, Ricky Nixon and read from a prepared statement.
?The matters leading to the statement I?m about to make are of a personal nature and I will not discuss them.
?For the well being of all concerned I have taken the decision to cease my career with the Kangaroos. I regret the circumstances of my actions which has led to the decision and the pain it has caused to my wife and to my family.
?I apologise to all of my teammates and all the Kangaroos supporters, however I believe that this is the only proper and responsible course of action. Thank you.?
Shortly afterwards, Kangaroos chairman Dr Allen Aylett also read from a prepared statement, this time at the club?s Arden Street headquarters.
?We need to make you aware from the outset, that the club will not comment on personal issues relating to individuals.
?I ask you to respect this position.
?Sadly the club accepts Wayne Carey?s decision to cease his playing days with the Kangaroos.
?Wayne has had an outstanding career with the club and his decision will affect us all.
?But I want everyone to know that our club, the North Melbourne Football Club ? the Kangaroos - will remain united and strong and get on with our business.
?We will continue to deliver to our members and supporters the high standards expected of us on and off the field.
?Ladies and gentlemen, it?s been a long day for the Club. Thank you.?
Carey fell out with his long-time teammates following a series of events that occurred over the weekend at a party hosted by Archer. Stevens and Archer failed to attend a compulsory training session the next day, sparking an internal investigation by the club.
Matters came to a head late on Tuesday night and further meetings on Wednesday led to Carey?s departure from the club. It is believed that the Roos were left with a choice between losing Stevens and Archer, or losing Carey.
The Kangaroos called a meeting of all players at 6pm at Arden Street at which the decision was handed down. They then left the meeting with their heads bowed, clearly shocked at the news and offered no comment.
Earlier, Nixon met with Aylett, club chief executive Michael Easy and football manager Geoff Walsh to discuss their options.
Not present at any meeting was coach Denis Pagan, who has forged an incredibly close relationship with Carey, stretching back to their days with the all-conquering Roos under 19 side in the late 1980s. Pagan was unavailable for comment when contacted by afl.com.au.
Carey, 30, played 244 games for the club, is a dual Kangaroo premiership captain (1996 and 1999) and considered to be the heart and soul of the club, as well as its most marketable player. He made his debut under John Kennedy in 1989, but emerged as a superstar in 1993, Pagan?s first as coach of the club.
He is a four time club best and fairest, seven time all-Australian player including four as captain, and a five-time leading goalkicker at Arden Street.
He joined the club from North Adelaide, however is a product of Wagga where he somehow failed to attract the attention of Sydney, which at the time was supposed to hold a mortgage over all the emerging talent from New South Wales.
Speculation is already rife that after 12 months out of the game, Carey will be tempted to return to AFL football with Sydney in 2003. Given his New South Wales background, he will prove a huge marketing tool in what is still a developing market for the game. AFL playing lists and salary levels have been finalised for this season, meaning that Carey cannot be selected by another club.
The Roos are now left to deal with all the fall-out from losing their no.1 player. Carey had a year remaining on his contract and it has not been disclosed as to whether there has been settlement of that.
But the club will have plenty of explaining to do to supporters, sponsors and the AFL, which is the last complication it needs with its membership in a parlous situation and coming off its first losing season in a decade.
Carey also made headlines just over six years ago when a female university student had him charged with assault after alleging that he had fondled her breasts at a nightclub, and Carey later settled out of court when the woman filed a civil suit against him.
:nono:
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Kangaroos captain Wayne Carey has quit the club, and for 2002 at least, AFL football, following an incident at a private function over the weekend that enraged his teammates Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens and left him on the outer with the rest of the club.
A clearly shattered Carey, battling back tears, announced his resignation at the Melbourne office of his manager, Ricky Nixon and read from a prepared statement.
?The matters leading to the statement I?m about to make are of a personal nature and I will not discuss them.
?For the well being of all concerned I have taken the decision to cease my career with the Kangaroos. I regret the circumstances of my actions which has led to the decision and the pain it has caused to my wife and to my family.
?I apologise to all of my teammates and all the Kangaroos supporters, however I believe that this is the only proper and responsible course of action. Thank you.?
Shortly afterwards, Kangaroos chairman Dr Allen Aylett also read from a prepared statement, this time at the club?s Arden Street headquarters.
?We need to make you aware from the outset, that the club will not comment on personal issues relating to individuals.
?I ask you to respect this position.
?Sadly the club accepts Wayne Carey?s decision to cease his playing days with the Kangaroos.
?Wayne has had an outstanding career with the club and his decision will affect us all.
?But I want everyone to know that our club, the North Melbourne Football Club ? the Kangaroos - will remain united and strong and get on with our business.
?We will continue to deliver to our members and supporters the high standards expected of us on and off the field.
?Ladies and gentlemen, it?s been a long day for the Club. Thank you.?
Carey fell out with his long-time teammates following a series of events that occurred over the weekend at a party hosted by Archer. Stevens and Archer failed to attend a compulsory training session the next day, sparking an internal investigation by the club.
Matters came to a head late on Tuesday night and further meetings on Wednesday led to Carey?s departure from the club. It is believed that the Roos were left with a choice between losing Stevens and Archer, or losing Carey.
The Kangaroos called a meeting of all players at 6pm at Arden Street at which the decision was handed down. They then left the meeting with their heads bowed, clearly shocked at the news and offered no comment.
Earlier, Nixon met with Aylett, club chief executive Michael Easy and football manager Geoff Walsh to discuss their options.
Not present at any meeting was coach Denis Pagan, who has forged an incredibly close relationship with Carey, stretching back to their days with the all-conquering Roos under 19 side in the late 1980s. Pagan was unavailable for comment when contacted by afl.com.au.
Carey, 30, played 244 games for the club, is a dual Kangaroo premiership captain (1996 and 1999) and considered to be the heart and soul of the club, as well as its most marketable player. He made his debut under John Kennedy in 1989, but emerged as a superstar in 1993, Pagan?s first as coach of the club.
He is a four time club best and fairest, seven time all-Australian player including four as captain, and a five-time leading goalkicker at Arden Street.
He joined the club from North Adelaide, however is a product of Wagga where he somehow failed to attract the attention of Sydney, which at the time was supposed to hold a mortgage over all the emerging talent from New South Wales.
Speculation is already rife that after 12 months out of the game, Carey will be tempted to return to AFL football with Sydney in 2003. Given his New South Wales background, he will prove a huge marketing tool in what is still a developing market for the game. AFL playing lists and salary levels have been finalised for this season, meaning that Carey cannot be selected by another club.
The Roos are now left to deal with all the fall-out from losing their no.1 player. Carey had a year remaining on his contract and it has not been disclosed as to whether there has been settlement of that.
But the club will have plenty of explaining to do to supporters, sponsors and the AFL, which is the last complication it needs with its membership in a parlous situation and coming off its first losing season in a decade.
Carey also made headlines just over six years ago when a female university student had him charged with assault after alleging that he had fondled her breasts at a nightclub, and Carey later settled out of court when the woman filed a civil suit against him.
