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Adelaide so professional: Carey
Alan Shiell
afc.com.au
12:45:40 PM Tue 31 December, 2002
The King is content in his new castle.
Wayne Carey has settled in smoothly and happily at the Adelaide Football Club and is still admiring the view, while expressing appreciation for the support he has received from the Crows’ players, officials, members and supporters – and the South Australian public.
He talks enthusiastically, even repetitively, about Adelaide’s “professionalism”, admitting he was nervous about joining the club and is still nervous about what lies ahead in 2003 when he resumes his magnificent football career after a year out of the game he ruled with the Kangaroos.
“It’s definitely been different to what I’ve been used to over the last 15 years,” Carey said of his new environment at AAMI Stadium.
“The whole set-up of the Adelaide Football Club is a lot different to the Kangaroos. It was always going to be different.
“It’s something that’s been exciting and really good. Training has been a fair bit different to what I’ve been used to over the last 15 years as well – a lot of different stuff. So all of that’s been exciting and refreshing for a new start at a new club. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed.
“I think the major difference is that you have everything at arm’s length here. You are able to come in and train right here at your home ground. You have your doctors, your physios, your swimming pool, your gymnasium all under the one roof.
“It’s definitely a change from what I was used to at the Kangaroos. But, in saying that, what I had at the Kangaroos was fantastic and we had a great deal of success with that.
“But it really has been good to come to an organisation so professional in the way they run things – everything from your fitness guy to the top of the tree, your doctor and obviously all of your coaches. Just everything has been so professional. They really leave no stone unturned in preparing you for a new season in AFL footy.
“The whole way through, from the time the club approached me to come over and play here, everyone has just been so professional – John Reid (general manager, football operations), James Fantasia (recruiting manager) … those guys have been really welcoming in the way they’ve approached the whole dealings.
“And just the whole football club … Mark Ricciuto, Simon Goodwin, Nigel Smart and Mark Bickley all called. They still ring to say g’day and I suppose sort of try to make you feel involved and really welcome.
“The whole place in the way it’s run is just so professional. That’s not to say the place where I’ve come from wasn’t professional. It’s just different. The amenities the Crows have and the way they’re set up really is an eye-opener.
“It’s definitely been very welcoming. Your trainers, masseurs, doctors, physios … they really are a good bunch of lads to be around and they’re all very friendly.”
Carey said he was “very nervous” at the Crows’ first training session and he still is “a little bit nervous”.
“It’s okay to look back at past records and what you’ve done in the game, but I’m nervous in that I want to perform and do well for the Adelaide footy club,” he said.
“And obviously still getting to know my way through and meeting a lot of new people and new supporters of the club. It is a bit of a nervous time, but one I’m looking forward to. I can’t wait for the season to come around.
“As I get closer, the nerves will definitely be there as they are at the start of every year.”
Reinforcing the way he had been accepted and the mood around the club, Carey said: “I knew a few of the guys before I came here. I’ve travelled to Ireland with a few of the guys and done things with Crows players over the years with Foxtel and other promotional activities.
“So I’ve got to know the guys over the years. It’s been great. It really does have a feel … it is a fairly young club. There are a lot of young guys around.
“It has a feel of an early ’90s Kangaroos team. I think everyone’s close. A lot of credit has to go to your Ricciutos, Goodwins, Smarts, Bickleys, McLeods, Harts – all those guys – the way they are with the younger players is a credit to them and obviously will hold the club in good stead going forward.
“There really aren’t any barriers between the great players of this club and the players coming up through. It is very even and everyone is very approachable, which has made it really easy to fit in.”
Told that the Adelaide Football Club was accused of not having a soul in its early days and, with its AAMI Stadium home, supposedly lacked the feel of a genuine football club, Carey said: “I must say that if you were here maybe five or six years ago, I could see how some people may perceive that.
“Obviously you look around the Kangaroos’ changerooms – and that’s the only thing I can compare it with – but you look around you (in the Crows’ rooms) and you see the players who have gone before you, and the history and the tradition, and you really do get a sense of being at a footy club. I think the Adelaide Football Club has definitely got that now, for sure.
“This is my first year here so I can’t talk beforehand, but just looking around and seeing the team photos up and in the players’ room where they have (names and photos) of guys who played 50, 100 or 200 games, and premiership flags and pictures – all that sort of thing is now the history of the Adelaide Football Club and that’s what gives it that feel.
“It was always going to be a matter of time before it had that feel because you have to be in the competition and maybe have a bit of success before you get that real football club feel, and the Adelaide Football Club has had that with two premierships.”
Carey is pleased with the warmth of the reception he has received away from the club.
“I haven’t been out and about in Adelaide a lot since I’ve been here,” he said. “We’ve been training too hard to be doing too much outside of football.
“But just in general, the people in the street and people who come down here to training have been very supportive and happy that I’ve become an Adelaide Crow, so that makes you feel good and makes you look forward to something in the new year.
“Hopefully I can give the Crows' supporters and everyone else here at the footy club something to cheer about next year, and really do what I’m here to do – to get a few kicks and hopefully win a few games with the rest of the boys in the new year.”
Carey said he and his wife, Sally, had not bought a house in Adelaide – yet.
“Sally and I are looking at the moment, but not too strenuously,” he said. “We’ve got a place we’re renting and hopefully we’ll find something soon.”
What a nice feel good story to lead into the new year. Hopefully we'll see him on Feb 14th! Not long to go now.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Jerome
Alan Shiell
afc.com.au
12:45:40 PM Tue 31 December, 2002
The King is content in his new castle.
Wayne Carey has settled in smoothly and happily at the Adelaide Football Club and is still admiring the view, while expressing appreciation for the support he has received from the Crows’ players, officials, members and supporters – and the South Australian public.
He talks enthusiastically, even repetitively, about Adelaide’s “professionalism”, admitting he was nervous about joining the club and is still nervous about what lies ahead in 2003 when he resumes his magnificent football career after a year out of the game he ruled with the Kangaroos.
“It’s definitely been different to what I’ve been used to over the last 15 years,” Carey said of his new environment at AAMI Stadium.
“The whole set-up of the Adelaide Football Club is a lot different to the Kangaroos. It was always going to be different.
“It’s something that’s been exciting and really good. Training has been a fair bit different to what I’ve been used to over the last 15 years as well – a lot of different stuff. So all of that’s been exciting and refreshing for a new start at a new club. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed.
“I think the major difference is that you have everything at arm’s length here. You are able to come in and train right here at your home ground. You have your doctors, your physios, your swimming pool, your gymnasium all under the one roof.
“It’s definitely a change from what I was used to at the Kangaroos. But, in saying that, what I had at the Kangaroos was fantastic and we had a great deal of success with that.
“But it really has been good to come to an organisation so professional in the way they run things – everything from your fitness guy to the top of the tree, your doctor and obviously all of your coaches. Just everything has been so professional. They really leave no stone unturned in preparing you for a new season in AFL footy.
“The whole way through, from the time the club approached me to come over and play here, everyone has just been so professional – John Reid (general manager, football operations), James Fantasia (recruiting manager) … those guys have been really welcoming in the way they’ve approached the whole dealings.
“And just the whole football club … Mark Ricciuto, Simon Goodwin, Nigel Smart and Mark Bickley all called. They still ring to say g’day and I suppose sort of try to make you feel involved and really welcome.
“The whole place in the way it’s run is just so professional. That’s not to say the place where I’ve come from wasn’t professional. It’s just different. The amenities the Crows have and the way they’re set up really is an eye-opener.
“It’s definitely been very welcoming. Your trainers, masseurs, doctors, physios … they really are a good bunch of lads to be around and they’re all very friendly.”
Carey said he was “very nervous” at the Crows’ first training session and he still is “a little bit nervous”.
“It’s okay to look back at past records and what you’ve done in the game, but I’m nervous in that I want to perform and do well for the Adelaide footy club,” he said.
“And obviously still getting to know my way through and meeting a lot of new people and new supporters of the club. It is a bit of a nervous time, but one I’m looking forward to. I can’t wait for the season to come around.
“As I get closer, the nerves will definitely be there as they are at the start of every year.”
Reinforcing the way he had been accepted and the mood around the club, Carey said: “I knew a few of the guys before I came here. I’ve travelled to Ireland with a few of the guys and done things with Crows players over the years with Foxtel and other promotional activities.
“So I’ve got to know the guys over the years. It’s been great. It really does have a feel … it is a fairly young club. There are a lot of young guys around.
“It has a feel of an early ’90s Kangaroos team. I think everyone’s close. A lot of credit has to go to your Ricciutos, Goodwins, Smarts, Bickleys, McLeods, Harts – all those guys – the way they are with the younger players is a credit to them and obviously will hold the club in good stead going forward.
“There really aren’t any barriers between the great players of this club and the players coming up through. It is very even and everyone is very approachable, which has made it really easy to fit in.”
Told that the Adelaide Football Club was accused of not having a soul in its early days and, with its AAMI Stadium home, supposedly lacked the feel of a genuine football club, Carey said: “I must say that if you were here maybe five or six years ago, I could see how some people may perceive that.
“Obviously you look around the Kangaroos’ changerooms – and that’s the only thing I can compare it with – but you look around you (in the Crows’ rooms) and you see the players who have gone before you, and the history and the tradition, and you really do get a sense of being at a footy club. I think the Adelaide Football Club has definitely got that now, for sure.
“This is my first year here so I can’t talk beforehand, but just looking around and seeing the team photos up and in the players’ room where they have (names and photos) of guys who played 50, 100 or 200 games, and premiership flags and pictures – all that sort of thing is now the history of the Adelaide Football Club and that’s what gives it that feel.
“It was always going to be a matter of time before it had that feel because you have to be in the competition and maybe have a bit of success before you get that real football club feel, and the Adelaide Football Club has had that with two premierships.”
Carey is pleased with the warmth of the reception he has received away from the club.
“I haven’t been out and about in Adelaide a lot since I’ve been here,” he said. “We’ve been training too hard to be doing too much outside of football.
“But just in general, the people in the street and people who come down here to training have been very supportive and happy that I’ve become an Adelaide Crow, so that makes you feel good and makes you look forward to something in the new year.
“Hopefully I can give the Crows' supporters and everyone else here at the footy club something to cheer about next year, and really do what I’m here to do – to get a few kicks and hopefully win a few games with the rest of the boys in the new year.”
Carey said he and his wife, Sally, had not bought a house in Adelaide – yet.
“Sally and I are looking at the moment, but not too strenuously,” he said. “We’ve got a place we’re renting and hopefully we’ll find something soon.”
What a nice feel good story to lead into the new year. Hopefully we'll see him on Feb 14th! Not long to go now.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Jerome
Looks like I can only go to the arvo sessions then 
