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Character goes a long way

By Mr Dandalooa

Character means a lot, even in the AFL.

And when it comes to assessing a player’s worth in being nominated for the Hall of Fame, it seems those with demons in their closet may not be able to escape their past, no matter how much of a legend on the filed they were.

Personal indiscretions have harmed former North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey’s chances of entering the Hall of Fame.

The AFL has maintained the controversial character clause criteria in inducting those into the Hall of Fame, despite an extensive review.

The AFL commission further reiterated its position that legend status should be only about playing accolades and coaching records.

But using character as one of the set criteria that selectors use to assess potential inductees seemingly has polarised the process by which players get recognised.

Carey, a former champion centre half-forward, has had his achievements on the field overshadowed by his off-field antics.

It was The Fevola Effect before there even was The Fevola Effect.

Carey traces his downfall, the time when his life and everything that he held dear began to slowly unravel, to the last month or two of 2001.

“That was when I started flirting with Kelli Stevens, the wife of my Kangaroos vice-captain and close friend, Anthony,” Carey said on October 24 2009.

“Kelli and I had known each other for at least 10 years. We were the party animals while Sally and Stevo were much more responsible and mature.

“Then something happened in our relationship that is difficult to explain or pinpoint.”

In March 2002 Carey had an extramarital affair with then-best-friend North Melbourne stalwart and Vice Captain Anthony Stevens’ wife, Kelli.

Carey and Stevens were attending a party at team mate Glenn Archer’s house. Carey is quoted as saying Kelli followed him into the toilets, in front of a large crowd including her husband.

An argument ensued between Carey and Stevens and both subsequently failed to attend football training. In the face of his team being united against him, as well as nationwide condemnation, Carey resigned in disgrace from North Melbourne.

The infamous affair was plastered all over the media and ultimately shattered Carey’s career.

It also meant Carey’s failure to be inducted last year into the Hall of Fame - the second year he was eligible.

Carey’s off-field antics have seemingly outweighed his playing record in the view of selectors, much like that of Gary Ablett senior.

The Geelong great was forced to wait several years before induction five years ago, for what should have been automatic inclusion, if not for his personal misbehaviour off the field.

Ablett’s off-field problems are also well-documented particularly with illegal drug use and depression.

In 1990 he was placed on a $10,000 good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to repeatedly hitting a man he found sitting in a car with his estranged wife.

Ten years later, Ablett became involved in controversy when 19-year old Geelong woman, Alicia Horan, died of a drug overdose from heroin, ecstasy and amphetamines while in Ablett’s hotel room.

After a prolonged period of refusing to answer police questions - Ablett stating he had “received pressure from certain avenues not to give all the facts” - admitted to providing Horan with heroin and other drugs, which he took with her.

Ablett was charged with four drug offences to which he pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined $1500.

But after a review, AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, like that of the board, unanimously recommended keeping the character clause in the selection criteria because of these noted indiscretions of some players.

The review also determined that the highest status of legend continue to be “exclusively for recognition of the most significant playing and coaching records”.

There were some changes to the induction process however, such as the requirement to induct a minimum of three players who retired in the preceding 10 years has been reduced to two players.

The maximum number of inductees in any single year has been reduced from eight to six.

At least a quarter of the 8 selectors must come from outside Victoria.

And there needs to be one inductee who was either an umpire, administrator or media representative every two years, down from every year.