Nicknamed "Super" and regarded as surprisingly agile for a player of his considerable size and a strong overhead mark,[2] Carey began his career playing mainly as a forward, forming a memorable partnership with full-forward Fred Phillis, before moving into the ruck for the remainder of his career.
He is the current SANFL, South Australian elite football and Glenelg games record holder, and as of 2022, is the only SANFL or South Australian elite football player to have played 400 games or more. Carey's total of 423 premiership games was the elite Australian rules football record until it was broken by Michael Tuck in the 1991 AFL Qualifying Final, and remained the record for most games played by an elite Australian rules footballer born in South Australia until it was broken by Craig Bradley in Round 2 of the 2001 AFL season. As of 2022, Carey ranks fifth behind Bradley (464), Shaun Burgoyne (433), Brent Harvey (432) and Tuck (426).
Carey also played 19 interstate football matches for South Australia and 25 pre-season/night series matches for Glenelg (which are counted as senior by the SANFL but not the VFL/AFL). If these are included, Carey played a total of 467 career senior games, which was an elite Australian rules football record until broken by Bradley in either of Round 11 of 2001 (using the AFL's total), Round 18 of 2000 (excluding Bradley's International Rules matches), or Round 11 of 2000 (using Bradley's overall total).
As of 2022, Carey's total of 467 remains a South Australian elite football record, and depending on the viewpoint taken:
Using the AFL's total, Carey ranks second in elite Australian rules football behind Bradley, who played 501 career senior games.
Excluding International Rules matches, Carey ranks third behind Bradley (519) and Brent Harvey (480).
Including International Rules matches, Carey ranks equal third with Shaun Burgoyne behind Bradley (528) and Harvey (491).
A member of both the South Australian and Australian Football Hall of Fame, Carey was an integral part of the Glenelg team during one of its most successful (but frustrating) eras, playing in ten SANFL Grand finals for three premierships.
He is currently serving as Glenelg's club president,[3] having taken over the role from fellow club legend Nick Chigwidden in October 2019.
Playing career
Carey made his senior debut for Glenelg while still attending Seacombe High School, against Central District at Elizabeth Oval in Round 12 of the 1971 SANFL season. He played initially as a centre half forward and topped Glenelg’s goalkicking in 1973 with 70 goals, including an amazing eleven in a score of 33.20 (218) against grand final opponent North Adelaide,[4] and six in the Grand Final win over the Roosters. He was to kick 487 goals in his career, including eight in the club’s amazing score of 49.23 (317) against Central District two years later. By this time, Carey had moved into the ruck, where he was to play the remainder of his career and help give the Tigers’ small men first use of the ball with his tremendous body strength. He won Glenelg’s Best and Fairest award in 1975, 1979 and 1981 and was club captain from 1983 until 1988, including back to back premierships in 1985 and 1986.
In 1981 he won the first ever Fos Williams Medal and for his performances with South Australia he also earned All Australian selection in both 1979 and 1980.
Carey was again among his side's best players during Glenelg's 1982 gruelling finals series, which eventually saw the Tigers fall at the last hurdle for the second consecutive season. His efforts were all the more admirable considering he had to play three of the finals under the duress of a groin injury which hampered his mobility and forced him to either kick mainly with his non-preferred left foot or handpass to nearby teammates.
In the Elimination final against Central District, he was rated among Glenelg's best, taking strong marks around the ground and rucking well, as well as regularly rotating between ruck and full-forward duties with Stephen Kernahan.[5] He suffered the groin injury during the magnificent First Semi-final victory over Sturt and struggled through the rest of the game. The extent of Carey's injury became clear the following week in the first quarter of the Preliminary final against Port Adelaide, when an awkward 35-metre set shot hit the behind post.[6] Despite this, he still managed to exert such an influence on the rest of the game, especially when Port came back hard in the second half, to be rated best on ground in the one-point victory.[7] Carey underwent intensive treatment during the week, but was still not fully fit when he ran out for his sixth SANFL Grand final. In the defeat to Norwood, Carey laboured manfully and was again named among Glenelg's best, even while still restricted by the groin injury.[8] The one time he did try and kick a goal with his right foot, from a set shot late in the third quarter, the ball hit the post. At the time Glenelg trailed by 19 points, and that would be as close as they came for the rest of the match. Carey eventually did kick a goal in the last quarter, but by that time the game was over as a contest.
In 2008, Carey was appointed a Commissioner on the South Australian Football Commission at the SANFL's AGM, replacing one of his former coaches John Halbert.[10]
Victoria 16.12 (108) defeated South Australia 16.8 (104), at Football Park, 15 May 1984
Western Australia 14.14 (98) defeated South Australia 14.13 (97), at Football Park, 9 June 1984
