NORTH Melbourne coach Dean Laidley is happy to welcome Wayne Carey back to the club but says it is more important for the former premiership captain to get his private life back on track.
Carey is to be inducted into North’s Hall of Fame this weekend, an important step in reconciling with the club he led to two premierships before his forced departure from Arden Street in 2002.
In the past 12 months, Carey has confessed to a substance abuse problem and has faced court in Miami on assault and was convicted and fined last month in Melbourne for assaulting police.
The Kangaroos are understood to be keen to have him work at the club in a mentoring role, perhaps as a sounding board for players having personal problems.
Laidley said he was open to the idea of Carey returning in some capacity but there were yet to be any detailed discussions with CEO Eugene Arocca and chairman James Brayshaw.
“He’s still got a long way to go in what he’s doing and where he’s come from, but it looks like he has certainly started to move forward, which is great,” Laidley said.
“At some stage there will be some sort of role going forward but that is yet to be discussed with myself.
“Eugene and James and I have sat down and have discussed that but there is still a lot of work to go for Wayne. He seems to be enjoying those steps and getting back to what he wants to be.”
While Carey’s Hall of Fame induction is a tribute to the club’s past glory, the future is also looking rosy with Jack Ziebell, Ben Warren and Liam Anthony a chance for senior selection against Melbourne in round one.
“I think there are a number of guys who have put their hand up,” Laidley said.
“We understand he (Ziebell) is still very young. He has played a few minutes through the pre-season.
“He and Anthony and Ben Warren have been good at times and so has (Todd) Goldstein. There’s also Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima down back.
“Those guys have put their hand up over pre-season.”
