AFL icon Wayne Carey is dumped from Friday Night Football and replaced by AFLW star Daisy Pearce

AFL legend Wayne Carey has been dropped from commentating Friday Night Football as AFLW star Daisy Pearce steps up to take his place.

Carey, a dual-premiership captain, had been on Channel 7’s prime time spot since 2014 but is now set to be moved to Saturday nights for this year’s season.

Pearce, a two-time Best and Fairest winner, impressed footy fans with her coverage of last year’s Grand Final and is expected to join Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge on special comments alongside callers Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw.

The network’s managing director Lewis Martin confirmed the changes which come just as Carey wraps up the latest season of SAS Australia. 

‘There are a number of changes that are going to happen and it’s just to freshen up the roster,’ Martin told the Herald Sun.

‘He’s coming off SAS, so there’s going to be a number of rotations.’

Also on Channel 7’s commentary team will be Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel, and Cameron Ling and Jobe Watson.

Games will be played from Thursday to Sunday this year. 

Carey was involved in one of the biggest sex scandals to hit the football world. 

The North Melbourne captain, 50, walked out on the club before the 2002 season when his affair with the wife of teammate Anthony Stevens became public.

Carey and Stevens’ wife Kelli had been caught in a bathroom together by teammates – including Stevens himself – at a birthday party, shattering both men’s marriages and tearing the Kangaroos apart.

The North Melbourne great will address the scandal on the upcoming season of SAS.

‘It’s haunted me for 20 years. My integrity will always be questioned,’ he says in a trailer for the third season.

‘I’m not trying to prove anything to the public; it’s to myself. People can change, they evolve. Hopefully this can help me.’  

Pearce, a two-time Best and Fairest winner, impressed footy fans with her coverage of last year’s Grand Final and is set to be featured in Friday night’s prime time spot 

Carey, a dual-premiership captain, had been on Channel 7’s prime time spot since 2014 but is now set to be moved to Saturday nights for this year’s season 

Carey’s sordid affair with Kelli Stevens was uncovered just 14 months after Carey married his long-time partner Sally McMahon with Stevens by his side as a groomsman.

The couple mended their relationship and had a daughter before parting ways in 2006.

Stevens also reconciled with Kelli and they welcomed two children before splitting in 2008.

In the wake of the scandal, Carey was forced to resign from the club and joined the Adelaide Crows. He was voted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2010. 

Teammates Wayne Carey (left) and Anthony Stevens (right) were best mates until  the pair fell out over the affair in 2002. They’re pictured celebrating after the 1996 grand final