The Seven Network is set to dump controversial AFL commentator Wayne Carey after he was caught with a zip-lock bag containing a white substance in a Perth casino.
TV Blackbox can reveal the employment contract of the football great is set to expire at the end of 2022 AFL season and will not be renewed as the fallout continues from an incident in a Perth Casino.
Carey was gambling at Crown Burswood earlier this month when the packet fell from his pocket onto a gaming room table.
The former AFL player was escorted from the Perth venue and was banned from entering any of Crown’s facilities across the country for the next two years.
While officially Channel 7 is still saying it will wait for a Western Australian police investigation to conclude, TV Blackbox understands the decision has already been made regarding Carey’s future with the network.
Carey who was in Perth to commentate on a finals clash between Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs has continued to deny the powder was an illicit substance, insisting it was actually ‘crushed up inflammatory tablets’ used for pain relief.
The North Melbourne great has recruited legal firm Maurice Blackburn to assess whether he was unlawfully discriminated against because of a disability.
“It was not an illegal substance, it was offered to security. Security didn’t take it. They just said it’s not a great look, I understood that, and we left without incident.”
The move by Channel 7 to part ways with Carey comes after a similar decision by radio broadcaster Triple M last week with chief content officer Dave Cameron stating.
“On behalf of Triple M, we would like to thank Wayne for his services to our football commentary team, and we wish him the best for the future,”
Carey was placed on a “temporary suspension” by Channel 7 and radio station Triple M immediately after the incident was made public in early September.
A third employer, The Age newspaper (Owned by Channel 9) has ceased publishing articles authored by Carey and has indicated it will “review its columnists” at the conclusion of the AFL season.
Carey’s career with Channel 7 was already in jeopardy after he demoted from his role as lead special commentator for Channel 7’s coverage of Friday Night Football at the start of this season.
The demotion came after negative feedback from viewers and advertisers after Carey appeared on reality series SAS Australia where he spoke of his controversial past that included a cheating scandal and an assault charge.
“I’m not proud of some of what I’ve done,” “But I’ve done a lot of work on myself in the last ten years, and I’m proud of it.”
