Why the AFL has put footy bad boy Wayne Carey back on the Hall of Fame invite list after barring him from receiving an honour just a few weeks ago

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Footy great Wayne Carey was barred from attending the NSW Hall of Fame dinner earlier this month in Sydney - but the North Melbourne dual premiership-winner now finds himself back on the AFL invite list.

Carey, 53, will be a welcome guest at the code's Hall of Fame induction night in Melbourne on June 18 - but won't receive an award.

It comes after AFL CEO Andrew Dillon intervened hours before Carey was due attend the NSW Hall of Fame gala evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground on May 3, where he was to be elevated as a legend due to his on-field exploits.

Carey was informed the league felt it was 'inappropriate' for him to receive the honour as the AFL takes a very public stance on violence against women.

It came in the same week the AFL launched a domestic violence campaign to create awareness and to spread the message that violence against women is always unacceptable.

Footy great Wayne Carey was barred from attending the NSW Hall of Fame dinner earlier this month in Sydney (pictured, with partner Jessica Paulke)

But in a bizarre move, the Kangaroos dual premiership-winner now finds himself back on the AFL invite list ahead of an induction gala evening in Melbourne on June 18

Carey won two AFL premierships with the Kangaroos in 1996 (pictured) and 1999

In 2007, Carey was accused of allegedly glassing his then-girlfriend Kate Neilson (right) in the face while the pair were having dinner at a restaurant while holidaying in Miami

In 2022, the North Melbourne legend was evicted from Crown Promenade Hotel in Perth after a zip-lock bag of unidentified white powder fell from his pocket onto the gaming table. He denied it contained any illicit substance and was not charged by police

The Kangaroos great has been accused of shocking behaviour towards women during and after his decorated playing career.

But now it appears all is forgiven, with Carey said to be keen to attend the induction evening where Hawthorn icon Jason Dunstall will be elevated as the 32nd legend of the sport.

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 his admission, Carey then captained North Melbourne to victory over the Sydney Swans in the AFL grand final that same year.

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

Then 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.

A year later, police were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue Carey after he assaulted officers in Port Melbourne.

And in 2022, Carey again attracted headlines after he was banned from all Crown venues when he was caught with a bag of white powder at the Perth casino when at the gambling tables.

He insisted the zip-bag contained 'an anti-inflammatory that he took with dinner.'