Wayne Carey was one of the AFL’s greatest players, but news of his extra-martial affair in 2002 with Kelli Stevens – the wife of his then-teammate – marred his name and his career.
Much like a slew of other infamous names before him, the 50-year-old seems to be hoping for redemption through Channel Seven’s SAS Australia.
But can the disgraced athlete slug it out in the intense selection course and face his fears in the Australian bush?
And more importantly, will viewers be convinced by his change of character on the show? That’s for us to decide when it premieres next month.
While he seems to still maintain the physicality of a footy star, the promo shows him being tested by the Directing Staff (DS) in the interrogation room – the juicy moments viewers are keen to watch.
Chief instructor Ant Middleton – notorious for his tough style – labels the former footy star a “trainwreck” and is visibly shocked as he admits: “I slept with a teammate’s wife,” referring to Anthony Stevens.
“It’s haunted me for 20 years. My integrity will always be questioned,” Carey says of the matter, as archived footage was shown of him and his former wife Sally McMahon in happier times.
Before the incident that lead to his departure from North Melbourne football club in 2002, Carey was the captain of an AFL team at just 21 back in 1993. He also led the team to premiership glory in 1996 and 1999.
In the promo, Carey said he isn’t “trying to prove anything to the public” but rather “to himself” by going on the show.
The footy great-turned-commentator then adds: “People can change, they evolve. Hopefully this can help me.” Help with what?
While Carey’s purpose on the show is to obviously show a different side to him, viewers are shown one of his most vulnerable moments on the selection course – his fear of heights as he is tasked with scaling up an 80-metre cliff face alongside a thunderous waterfall.
Season three of SAS Australia returns to Channel Seven in February.
