The CoodabeenChampions Quality Street
13 April 2002
Gee, you've got to feel sorry for Carey. Stefan Carey. Injuries prevented us from seeing the best of the big bloke. His physical breakdowns were a tragedy out of Shakespeare. The Carey background had the unique quality of John Lee Hooker's singing. Stefo was the son of George Carey. Not the Archbishop of Canterbury. Anyway Carey senior had five games for four goals at Fitzroy in 1966. The family shifted to Sydney where the gangly Stefan grew up playing rugby union. The story goes the tallster followed a mate to the Pennant Hills Aussie Rules club. Carey was a quick learner. Represented NSW in the 1993 Teal Cup 18 months after adopting the great game oi. SC chalked up 45 games at Pennant. The Sydney Swans chose him with a 1993 zone selection. The recruit was a giant. 197 centimetres and 105 kilograms.
The Swannies gave him the number 31 jumper. At South it had been worn by Fred Way and north of the border by Michael Phyland famous for catching the Plugga 4 piglet. The old saying is that big fellows mature at the speed of a tractor in low gear. Carey learned the craft in the reserves. But slowing his progress were hernia and hip problems. So senior footy seemed as far off as the horizon at Kununurra. The kid showed four large ventricles to bounce back. At the age of 20 he played four senior games through 1996.
Stefan Carey slapped his straps in 1997. Round 9. Collingwood under lights at the SCG. Mr Biggie indicated he was footy's answer to a house re-blocker. Could work in a confined space. He gift wrapped goals to Michael O'Loughlin and Lockett. Also in the third Carey took two glorious marks and booted a pair of six pointers. During the last a hard ball get and a neat pass to Troy Cook. Goal. Swans victors. 16.15 to 11.8.
For round 10 Sydney travelled to Brisbane. Carey was the classic team player. Number 31 could read the play as though it was a telephone directory. Late in the first he took a pack grabber and handpassed inside to Mark Bayes who made no mistake from 55. A neat set piece. 20 minutes into the third stanza Stef marked again and a pass inboard again to Bayes who again goaled. Unfortunately the Swans down by three points 13.14 to 13.11.
The round 11 night encounter with Port at Football Park. For the visitors a tall order like a giraffe buying a round of drinks. Some great goals from the Swans. Nothing better than on the cusp of three quarter time. Carey showcased some agility by marking on a long lead close to the boundary. Nothing on offer upfield. He shot at the sticks from the 50 metre arc. The ball followed the white line and beat the pack in the square. One of the goals of the year. Port shell shocked. Swans a great win. 10.16 to 4.17. Power fans very dark.
Carey booted two commanding goals during the round 19 loss to St Kilda at the SCG. Swans surprise losers. 17.17 to 18.20. In 1998 Stefan accepted the number 15 jumper. He started shaving his head. The desert haircut a fearsome sight. This may have brought bad luck. He broke an ankle and took a long time to recover. The giant then struggled with various injuries. At the end of 1999 the man had played 45 games. Sydney traded him to Brisbane for draft pick 21.
Stefo wore the number 30 guernsey. In the opening game of the 2000 season Lions v Blues at Optus. Carey copped a hard bump from Aaron Hamill. It caused a thigh injury that took a month to heal. Scarey had the rest of the year in the QFL. He was then delisted after three games on the interchange.
Stefan Carey was a player that gave his all despite the spectre of injury.