I have to disagree that this sort of incident shouldnt affect his playing career...u must remember the guy was the captain of the club and hes run off with the wife of his vice captain, something that has to make the team situation prettymuch untenable. So to answer zoomer- private affairs do affect matters on field if the wrong people are involved.
I doubt if Carey will play for another club (he will never again play for the Roos i have no doubt about that) but i have no problem with him doing so- footy clubs dont really care about moral matters unless its the sort that will cause rifts within a team as this one was.
As far as Carey the player, a year off could see him come back at full fitness, something he hasnt managed since the late 1990s. He hasnt appeared to be as good a player as he was because of these injuries. Clubs with more depth and money than North Melb. wouldve allowed him to take an extended break and have surgery on his various complaints (including osteitus pubus, no joke), but as theyre forever on the edge of the precipice depending on their onfield results and the marketing power of their stars, hes played thru those injuries and missed countless training and recovery sessions, including several full pre seasons.
[This message has been edited by brettig (edited 03-19-2002).]