In a joint interview with News Limited papers and New Idea magazine, Carey said he used cocaine and was now ready to seek help.

"I really think I had to hit rock bottom, which now I have, before I was forced to make these changes," Carey said.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou expressed sadness over Carey's confession.

"I have seen this morning's paper and if it is true, I feel very sad about that," Demetriou said.

"One of the most encouraging things I've read out of that article was that Wayne has actually acknowledged he has a problem.

"In many instances, that's the first step ... he needs to get some help about it and I wish him well."

Carey's lucrative deal with New Idea has provoked outrage amongst campaigners against domestic violence.

"If they're paying for a story based on someone beating up somebody else it's sleazy and it goes back to the fact that most people think that it's not criminal," Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service board member Jane Ashton said.

"It undermines all these people who work in family violence who are trying to reassure women that it's not normal and it is criminal."