I'm ready to coach, says Carey
Brent Diamond | August 25, 2009
FORMER North Melbourne star Wayne Carey says he is ready to take his first step into coaching as a "specialist" coach at an AFL club and is fielding offers from several clubs for next season.
Carey, who last year revealed he had an alcohol problem, has since got his life back on track and publicly made his ambitions known at a North Melbourne charity event on the weekend.
The 38-year-old said last night that he was comfortable in beginning a new phase of his career in coaching.
"I'd be more than happy to listen to anyone who wanted to listen that I wanted to say about football," Carey said on Channel Nine's Footy Classified.
"Over the last couple of years, even though I haven't been in Melbourne, I've spoken to a few forwards around the league … and I've had a few clubs talk to me about doing a bit of work with their forward line."
He admitted he didn't put in 100 per cent when appointed as an assistant coach at Collingwood in 2006.
"I wouldn't say it didn't work out … but I know within myself that I certainly didn't give it 100 per cent," he said.
"I pride myself on doing things 100 per cent. Let's be honest, I played football at 100 per cent and I sort of mucked up nearly close to 100 per cent as well.
"I feel more comfortable in a place where I think I can certainly put across what I'd like to get across rather than maybe four or five years ago, I wasn't quite ready to do that.
"If there was a role that was offered and everything sort of fit, then I'd certainly give it 100 per cent.''
Carey is set to relocate to Melbourne next year from the Gold Coast to spend more time with his daughter, Ella.
He admits he has taken a long hard look at himself through a book that he is writing on his life.
"It's not until you sit down and analyse yourself like I have over the last year or so and really take that in and address issues that have been a problem in your life. Writing this book has been therapy for me, just to sit down and go through your whole life and work out where you've been. It really has been a learning curve that's for sure," he said.
He also said he would be ecstatic if he was to land a spot in the AFL Hall of Fame next year after controversially missing out on a 6-6 split decision from selectors last year.
"I've given it no thought whatsoever. If you get into something like that, I'd be over the moon. It'd be a great thing to be in the Hall of Fame of the AFL. Last year, I was inducted into the North Melbourne Hall of Fame which was huge," he said.
"You don't play football to make hall of fames … if it did happen next year, I'd be ecstatic," he said.
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