‘WAYNE’S MY WORLD’

WAURN PONDS Shinboner Barbara Donovan is such a big fan of North Melbourne Football Club great Wayne Carey that she once planned to write a book about the champion player.

And after ‘the King’ was named North Melbourne’s greatest player in its 150-year history at the weekend, Mrs Donovan is determined to share a side of Carey which she says counters the scandal that plagued him during the early 2000s.

Yesterday, from the Wayne Carey shrine she has created at her home — that includes premiership memorabilia, Carey’s golden footy boots, Carey bobbleheads and a prized picture with the former Roo — Mrs Donovan, 84, said her idol should be lauded for his attention to fans with a disability.

“Many times Wayne was helpful with people with disabilities. He had a sort of knack of making them feel they had something to offer others,” Mrs Donovan, whose daughter has a disability, said.

Carey’s ability to remember fans’ names also resonates with Mrs Donovan, who has been a North Melbourne member for more than 30 years.

She recalls two meetings in the ’90s months apart where Carey referred to her by her first name; the first while he was playing at Football Park in Adelaide and the other in a lift at the MCG.

“On both occasions he smiled and said, ‘Hi Barb’,” she said.

As for his football prowess, Mrs Donovan said Carey, who booted 671 goals in 244 games during a 12year career at North Melbourne, is unrivalled.

“Being in control of the ball and knowing what was going to happen on the field was a gift of his,” Mrs Donovan said.