AFL legend Wayne Carey is following through on his threat to boycott watching footy for as long as Essendon forward Peter Wright is suspended for his hit on Sydney veteran Harry Cunningham.
On his podcast this week, Carey said it would be “weak as p***” to ban Wright over the incident which knocked Cunningham out.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Harry Cunningham knocked out by Peter Wright in brutal clash.
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The Bombers’ 2022 best and fairest was charging towards a ball kicked in his direction and jumped to take the mark, but turned his body and instead braced for contact when Cunningham got between him and the Sherrin.
Wright collected the Swans winger in the head, leaving him unconscious with a high-speed hit that was graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
The AFL referred him directly to the tribunal for the incident, over which Carey blew up.
“Whoever decided that was sent straight to the tribunal, that is just c*** and wrong,” the dual premiership captain said.
“I’m prepared to say if Peter Wright gets suspended, whatever weeks he gets, I will not watch a game of AFL footy. I’m done. I’m jumping ship.
“I would say to anyone out there, if we want this game to look anything like it should look, he’s allowed to attack that footy and he’s allowed to protect himself.
“They got to the footy simultaneously. He turned his body to protect himself. If he doesn’t turn his body, they’re both hurt. This is what our game is about. You’re allowed to attack the footy like he did.
“It’s just gone too far now for me. I will not watch footy for as long … if he gets weeks, I’m not going to watch it for as long as he’s out of the game.”
At Tuesday night’s hearing, the league pushed for a suspension of “not less than four weeks”, which was upheld by the panel.
On social media just moments later, Carey confirmed his boycott would begin — and took a shot at the game on the way out.
“No footy (for) four weeks but let’s be honest, not a great loss given how it’s being played,” he wrote, followed by a hashtag indicating he would turn to the NRL instead.
Carey said he was disappointed Wright was sent to the tribunal and argued a ban would change players’ decision-making.
“Players are going to be petrified to even go at the footy hard,” he said before the hearing.
“Players are going to be tip-toeing around the footy and not even going to want to attack the footy. Is that what we want to turn this game into?”