sport news The AFL sensationally BLOCKS Wayne Carey from receiving hall of fame honour ... trends now

The AFL has stunned the footy world by blocking controversial great Wayne Carey from receiving an honour at a NSW Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday night.

In a last-minute call, league boss Andrew Dillon rang the ex-North Melbourne premiership winner on Friday, just hours before he 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 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. Yesterday 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 earlier this morning 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.