'Stupid people': Sam Newman lashes out as he and Wayne Carey cop footy club snub

Yahoo

11-06-2025

Organisers of a footy fundraising event have been forced to dump Wayne Carey and Sam Newman after community backlash around the planned appearances of the controversial AFL figures. It's the latest blow for North Melbourne's dual premiership legend Carey, who was only last week filmed in a heated stoush with a patron outside a Melbourne pub.
Carey was supposed to appear at the fundraising lunch at Victoria's Barwon Heads Football and Netball Club with his friend and fellow podcaster, Newman. But the club decided to alter its plans after 'there was considerable community backlash' around their appearance, according to .
Both Carey and Newman are polarising figures and a spokesperson for the club confirmed to News Corp on Tuesday that they had 'decided to go in a different direction' after initially inviting the pair to attend the fundraiser as special guests. Newman insists he and Carey are not bothered by the snub, but hit out at the community uproar in a typically strong-worded statement.
'Some people thought it was not a good idea so they cancelled it, which makes no difference to Wayne and I,' he said. 'These people in good faith asked us to come and then some people get a little anxious about who is appearing and they have every right to withdraw the invitation.
'It is pretty weak of a committee to have the tail wag the dog when I can assure you that the response they got about Wayne coming down, and me, was overwhelming. But the tail wags the dog and in this world we live in intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't feel offended.'
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The snub comes days after footage spread online showing Carey in a heated altercation with another patron outside a Melbourne pub, that ended up spilling out onto the street. It's understood the other man in the footage was known to Carey and began insulting the Kangaroos legend, who could be seen tugging at the man's shirt as an onlooker shouted out" 'Wayne, Wayne, relax'.
#BREAKING: Wayne Carey has been filmed in a heated exchange with another man at a popular pub in Albert Park. #9News pic.twitter.com/MhQwMZhufo
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 6, 2025
The incident was the latest in a string of dramas for the AFL great and former media personality, whose incredible playing career was overshadowed by an affair with former teammate Anthony Stevens' wife Kelli in 2002. Carey left the Kangaroos in disgrace despite being the club captain and helping them win two premierships and he hasn't repaired the relationship with his former best mate in the 23 years that have followed.
However, veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson revealed last month that Carey and Stevens will put their differences aside to attend North Melbourne's centenary celebrations later this year. The Kangaroos will celebrate their 100 years of existence for the Round 17 game against the Western Bulldogs.
The Kangaroos released a video last year to celebrate 100 years in the VFL/AFL, and it controversially left Carey out. But Wilson says the club legend will be welcome in Round 17, where he, Stevens and fellow former teammate Glenn Archer will present a "united front".
Wilson said: 'All three men are well aware that they will be there together and united for the first time. There was speculation last year when North unveiled their centenary jumper. And if you remember, there were North champions from through the eras and there was no Wayne Carey (in the video) and Corey McKernan was very upset about this.
'They had a 25-year premiership reunion for the '96 flag, and there was an altercation at a pub between Anthony Stevens and Wayne Carey. We know the history there. They had to be separated. I don't think it was physical, but it was not nice.
'And when there was a motorcade the next day at Marvel Stadium, Anthony Stevens wasn't there and Wayne Carey was. So the club has worked really hard to get all these guys within the fold. And clearly you can't celebrate your 100th anniversary without Wayne Carey being there.'