Former Port Magpie Luke Carey says his early-season stint with the SANFL Crows has rekindled his desire to pursue a career in League football.
Carey, 25, has been one of Adelaide’s most impressive performers of this year’s State League development squad. The 193cm, 99kg defender has played six games for the SANFL Crows and been trusted with standing some of the competition’s most dangerous key forwards.
But Carey has already shown this season that he excels - rather than wilts - under pressure.
He blanketed Power listed forward John Butcher in Adelaide’s Round Seven clash with the Magpies in Balaklava. Butcher went goalless and was held to just three disposals for the match.
Former Hawk Travis Tuck, who Carey rates as his most difficult opponent, managed just one goal against him in West Adelaide’s 29-point win over the Crows in Round Three.
Carey also kept Sturt’s Angus Bruggemann off the scoreboard in Adelaide’s first SANFL win of the year at Unley.
The ex-Port Adelaide junior, who played 10 League games with the Magpies across four seasons of senior football, walked away from the SANFL in 2012. Carey joined Echunga in the Hills Football League and booted 90 goals across three seasons as a key-position utility for the Demons, including two majors in Echunga’s 20-point Grand Final win over Uraidla last season.
But Carey’s desire to test himself against the state’s best remained. So when Crows development staff came into contact over summer, he was quick to take the call.
Carey said he’s now more determined than ever to make the most of his second shot at League footy.
“This is the best place for me to be to try and get back into the League,” he said.
“I’ve got great coaches and great support here and back at Echunga. I talk to my coaches every week for constant feedback and they’re all for me playing at the highest possible level that I can.
“But it’s more that, I’ve just rediscovered that love for the game this year.
”I want to keep giving it a crack through to next season, whether it’s here or with another club.”
Originally from Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, Carey said the opportunity to play with the SANFL Crows has lifted his own game to another level.
“It’s been amazing,” he said.
“It’s been great to play with a few of the senior boys like ‘Nutta’ (Ian Callinan) and ‘Pods’ (James Podsiadly) and those guys. They really help us younger guys out with our positioning and where to go.
“Not many people have that kind of opportunity to play alongside blokes with such knowledge and experience. It’s really helped me improve my own game.”
Crows defensive development coach Jarrod Cotton said Carey has been one of Adelaide’s great success stories in the SANFL this season.
“He’s just been a solid, team-first player you can rely on, which is exactly what you need in the backline,” Cotton said.
“We’ve given him some big jobs this year, particularly with a few injuries to some of our other key talls early in the season. He’s handled himself very well every time.
“The coaches have all been really happy with his progress. He’s got all the tools to make it in League footy if puts his mind to it.”
Adelaide’s SANFL team returns to action this weekend against the Eagles at Woodville Oval on Saturday afternoon. Ticketed members receive free entry to the clash, which kicks off at 2.10pm, upon presentation of their 2015 Membership Card.
