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Wayne Carey and Alastair Clarkson: a history of the fiery footy feud

AFL heavyweights Alastair Clarkson and Wayne Carey are embroiled in a public argument yet again. 

Carey, speaking on radio on Sunday, raised rumours that Hawks star Cyril Rioli was considering retiring to return to the Tiwi Islands. 

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The comments outraged Clarkson, who lashed out at Carey after his side's 50-point win over West Coast later that day. 

Clarkson's most recent outburst is just the latest chapter in a feud that has been playing out in the open for years. 

Teammates turned media and coaching giants

Clarkson and Carey were teammates at North Melbourne between 1989 and 1995. 

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Clarkson then moved to Melbourne (1996 to 1997) and Carey moved to the Adelaide Crows (2003 to 2004). Carey sat out the 2002 season following an affair with North Melbourne captain and best mate Anthony Stevens' wife. 

Carey retired in 2004 and became a media commentator in 2006. He writes for Fairfax Media and appears on the Seven Network and Triple M radio. 

Before he coached Hawthorn to four premierships between 2008 and 2015, Clarkson was an assistant coach at St Kilda and Port Adelaide and head coach at Werribee in the VFL and Central District in the SANFL. 

Public feud begins

In 2008 it was alleged then-rookie and Hawks star Lance Franklin had made sexually inappropriate remarks to two women at a nightclub. 

Clarkson, speaking on SEN at the time, chose to compare Franklin and his predicament to the controversy-laden career and post-career life of Carey. 

"I had an enormous amount of time for `Duck' [Carey] and the way he went about things and I've got an enormous amount of time for Buddy Franklin and the way he goes about his footy and the way he goes about the way he carries himself," Clarkson said. 

Carey questions Sam Mitchell, Clarko brands him 'silly'

During Hawthorn's 138-point smashing of Carlton in 2015, Carey made some now infamous comments about superstar Sam Mitchell during the Seven Network broadcast.

"Just having a look at Sam Mitchell, I want to ask you a question," Carey said. "Would he get a game at any other club?

"Don't get me wrong, I think he's an absolute champion, but if you're in a lesser team, a team that's not winning, you're expected to put pressure on and his pace doesn't allow him to do it.

"In any other team, his pace would be a concern. If you put him in this Carlton team, they would say he doesn't put enough pressure on."

Wayne Carey and Alastair Clarkson in their North Melbourne Playing days

Wayne Carey and Alastair Clarkson in their North Melbourne playing days. Photo: Fairfax Media

Mitchell's 2015 form was brilliant and Carey's comments surprised some in the football world, including Clarkson. The midfielder was an All Australian that year and won his fourth premiership. 

Clarkson described Carey's comments as "silly" and said "we should open up a file on Wayne Carey".

Concussion claims rile Clarko

The next week, Carey was commentating in Hawthorn's win over Richmond. Hawthorn defender James Frawley was replaced in-game by sub Billy Hartung due to concussion fears. 

Frawley was eventually cleared by doctors to play but in the 20 minutes that Hartung had replaced him, before being subbed back out, the speedy midfielder helped swing the game the Hawks' way. 

Carey questioned the incident because of how long it took to assess Frawley. Clarko lashed out post-game. 

"A coach doesn't have anything to do with it [the concussion test], get that clear," Clarkson said.

"Not me, not 17 other coaches either. We never, ever overrule the doctor.

"So whoever said it, was that 'Duck' was it? Carey? Another great call by Carey."

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 23: Hawks head coach Alastair Clarkson reacts to fans during the round five AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the West Coast Eagles at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 23, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Clarkson has an infamously fiery temper, and has not hidden it during criticism of Carey. Photo: Getty Images

Carey's 'no basis' trade whisper

In September 2016 Carey drew the ire of Hawthorn when he claimed the club was considering trading Luke Breust to the Gold Coast, as part of a deal to land Jaeger O'Meara. 

However Breust's manager Neil McMullin said Carey's claim had "no basis". 

Carey's interjection was significant given Clarkson was reportedly one of the hardest people pushing for O'Meara to join the Hawks, which he eventually did. The deal did not include Breust. 

Carey 'should know better than to throw up bullshit'

On Sunday on Triple M radio, Carey raised rumours suggesting Hawks superstar Cyril Rioli was homesick, and was considering quitting footy to return to the Tiwi Islands. 

After the Hawks won their first game for 2017 against West Coast on Sunday, Clarko unloaded on Carey when asked a question about Rioli, Jack Gunston and Shaun Burgoyne. 

"Cyril is going back to the Tiwi, I heard Wayne Carey make that great announcement," Clarkson said.

"What a load of rubbish. Once again, no account, no account by a bloke who should know better than throw up bullshit about our players.

"Carey, of all people … he shouldn't make too many comments about stories about other players because we could just go to town on him."