A PLAYER'S character will continue to be integral to his selection for one of the AFL's greatest honours — induction into the hall of fame — league boss Andrew Demetriou said yesterday.

Whether Wayne Carey, who must return to the US in April to face charges relating to violence, is deemed by the hall of fame committee to be a worthy inductee the first year he is eligible will be debated when the 11-person committee meets this week.

Carey, a supreme performer on-field but serial misfit off it, made the shortlist of candidates that will be culled before the latest inductees are announced in May.

On the same day, Carey's detailing of violent episodes involving his partner and admission to illicit drug and heavy alcohol use was published in a women's magazine, Demetriou stood by the selection criteria that could prevent one of the game's greatest players being admitted into football's pantheon.

Demetriou, who is not part of the selection committee, said he had no reservations about repeating a debate similar to the one that surrounded Gary Ablett's delayed induction — that eventually came in 2005.

"No, I don't have any reservations," the league chief said yesterday.

"Our game's a great democratic game and everyone's entitled to have a view. There's no right or wrong, and I think in our 150th year it symbolises what is great about our game — all the people that are involved are going to have their views. And if people have a view that he shouldn't be in they're entitled to that, and if people have a view that he should, they're entitled to that.

"They base their judgement on entering a very, very significant milestone called the hall of fame on several aspects and character is one criteria included because they wanted people who were of good judgement and respected for things as well as their playing ability.

"I'm happy with the process that they put in place back in 1995-6. It was a very lengthy and well researched process in deciding what they set down as criteria and I think the hall of fame committee in my time has always acted pretty responsibly and sensibly."

The hall of fame selection charter says the committee "may consider" the individual record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character of a candidate.

Ron Barassi, who was made a legend in the first year of the hall of fame in 1996, has already spoken out about the prospect of Carey being inducted.

"Would you induct Hitler into a sporting hall of fame if he was a great sportsman?" Barassi told The Sunday Age this week.

Players must be retired for three years before being eligible for hall of fame selection. Carey retired from Adelaide in 2004.