Sydney Swans greats Tony Lockett and Paul Kelly were among nine identities inducted to the inaugural NSW Australian Football Hall of Fame at a gala dinner staged at the SCG on Friday night.

Wayne Carey was set to be the tenth Legend of the group – before AFL CEO Andrew Dillon stepped in at the eleventh hour to sensationally block his elevation.

In March, 100 people ranging from players and coaches to administrators, umpires and media personalities were officially inducted into the Hall of Fame.

At Friday’s black tie evening, nine of that group were awarded Legend status as a result of their ‘outstanding service and overall contribution to the game’.

Lockett and Kelly – who both played in the 1996 AFL Grand Final – which the Swans lost to Carey’s North Melbourne – were acknowledged alongside former Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless, Terry Daniher, Jack Dean, Haydn Bunton, Ralph Robertson, Harry J Hedger MBE and Jim Phelan.

Lockett enjoyed two stints at the Swans, with the highlight reaching the 1996 Grand Final

Swans great Jarrad McVeigh made it a family affair with his wife and two daughters

Fellow AFL great Mark McVeigh was also in attendance with his wife and children

Crows star Tex Walker (right) – who accepted a NSW scholarship contract with Adelaide at the age of 16 – also graced the red carpet

Numerous members of the Swans’ 2005 and 2012 premiership sides were spotted in the room, including coach John Longmire and club greats Brett Kirk and Jarrad McVeigh.

‘It’s important for people to understand NSW has played Australian rules football for more than 140 years,’ Tiffany Robertson, the head of AFL NSW/ACT said.

‘There have been countless talented players and committed volunteers who have built a strong culture and rich history for the code throughout the state.

‘The Hall of Fame is a testament to all those people who have given so much. 

‘Congratulations to everyone who was recognised.’

In the hours leading up to the NSW Hall of Fame ceremony, the AFL stunned the footy world by blocking controversial great Wayne Carey from receiving his decorated individual honour.

In a last-minute call, league boss Andrew Dillon rang the dual North Melbourne premiership winner to inform him of the decision, just hours before Carey was due to be elevated to Legend status at the Sydney Cricket Ground function.

Carey had been photographed arriving in the city with his partner Jessica Paulke earlier in the day.

The 52-year-old was told the league believes it is inappropriate for him to receive the honour as the AFL takes a very public stance on violence against women, with a minute’s silence to be observed at ceremonies held before all round eight matches.

Carey (pictured arriving in Sydney on Friday with partner Jessica Paulke) only found out about the AFL’s surprise move hours before he was due to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony at the SCG

AFL boss Andrew Dillon called Carey (pictured) personally to deliver the news

Carey has been accused of shocking behaviour towards women during and after his playing career. 

However, that did not stop him from being inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2010. 

‘The AFL acknowledge the decision by a committee of NSW football industry people to recognise Wayne Carey’s contribution on the football field as part of 100 inaugural inductees in the NSW Hall of Fame,’ Dillon said in a statement.

‘His contribution on the field is also why he was recognised in the AFL Hall of Fame in 2010. On Friday afternoon, the AFL Executive were alerted to the decision by the NSW Hall of Fame Committee for Carey to be elevated to Legend status.

‘We didn’t think it was the right decision. I called Wayne Carey to inform him of this and he agreed that being made a Legend would take away from the event and the important focus on the national response to the issue of gender-based violence against women.’

Dillon said Carey agreed with the move once the motivation behind it was explained to him.

The move to block Carey (pictured during his time with North Melbourne in 2000) came about due to accusations about his shocking behaviour with women

The timing of the Hall of Fame honour was awful for the AFL, which is getting players at every round eight match to make public gestures as the league takes a stand on violence against women (pictured, Crows and Power players during a minute’s silence on Thursday night)

In 1996, Carey admitted to an indecent assault against a woman, which was settled out of court after he allegedly grabbed her breast on a Melbourne street.

Despite this admission, Carey would captain North Melbourne to victory over Sydney in the AFL grand final that same year and go on to play 271 career games.

In 2002, Carey infamously had an affair with the wife of his then-best friend and North Melbourne vice captain Anthony Stevens.

In 2007 the former Adelaide and North Melbourne star was arrested in the United States for allegedly breaking a wine glass in former fiancée Kate Neilson’s face.

Neilson refused to press charges but later said she was left ‘bleeding profusely from the mouth’.

Carey also pleaded guilty to two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer when he fought police after the incident with Neilson.

Then in 2008, police were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue Carey after he assaulted officers in Port Melbourne.

In 2007 Carey was accused of glassing his then-partner Kate Neilson (pictured together) in a restaurant in America. She refused to press charges

Like the AFL Hall of Fame, the NSW equivalent can block players on the grounds of ‘integrity, sportsmanship and character’.

Earlier this week, Dillon said: ‘When it comes to violence against women, the only acceptable figure is zero.’

But he also trumpeted for the NSW Hall of Fame – and Carey’s inclusion in it.

‘Australian football in NSW has a deeper history than many realise,’ he said.

‘Congratulations to the Hall of Fame inductees, each has played a significant role in bettering footy in NSW.

Dillon’s decision to block the honour should come under close scrutiny after Carey’s alleged past scandals didn’t prevent him from being elevated to the AFL Hall of Fame in 2010

‘I look forward to learning more about these many greats and hearing their stories over the months and years to come, as footy culture continues to permeate throughout NSW.’

The move to block Carey’s personal honour comes after footy fans slammed the league’s stand on violence against women at this weekend’s games.

Players, coaches and umpires are coming together in the centre of the ground to form a circle and pay a silent tribute to those women who have lost their lives, before an MC reads a statement to the crowd. 

However, many footy fans have slammed the move, insisting that the AFL is being hypocritical as it looks to welcome back a player like Tarryn Thomas, who has pleaded guilty to threatening to distribute intimate videos of a former partner, and has faced allegations of disgraceful behaviour with women.

‘Nothing more than hypocritical grandstanding,’ wrote one fan on X.