3051
Senior List
- Sep 20, 2015
- 259
- 1,054
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
I've nominated some seasons, but feel free to come up with other seasons that you felt were better nominees.
1993
Accolades: All-Australian (Captain), North Melbourne Best & Fairest (Syd Barker Medal), North Melbourne Captain
Comment: The year that Carey announces himself as a bonafide superstar of the game. Quite remarkable that Carey is named AA Captain in the first year as captain of his club, and as the second youngest captain ever. Also noteworthy that this is the year that he has his strongest polling season in the Brownlow, finishing equal third, only two votes behind Wanganeen. Tough initiation into finals footy playing Jakovich and the reigning premier Eagles first up, and it shows - Carey plays a poor game to end a great year on a sour note.
1994
Accolades:All-Australian
Comment: Perhaps his least decorated season in terms of accolades, but has arguably his greatest finals series of his career - instrumental in the QF win against the Hawks with jaw-dropping 32 disposals, 10 marks, and 4 goals, as well as almost pulling the Roos to a PF win against the Cats with 24 disposals, 14 marks, and 6 goals. Carey also apparently did it with a torn calf too.
1995
Accolades: All-Australian, AFLPA MVP (Leigh Matthews Trophy)
Comment: 1995 was not Carey's most dominant in terms of stats and team record, but he did win that year's AFLPA MVP.
1996
Accolades: All-Australian, North Melbourne Best & Fairest (Syd Barker Medal), Premiership Captain
Comment: First premiership year for Carey. A complete masterclass, though curiously this is not his most decorated in terms of accolades, and was overshadowed by his teammate McKernan, who almost won the MVP and Brownlow double. Paul Kelly also got the AA captain node over Carey. Had his record goals tally with 11 against the helpless Dees this year. Has a underrated finals series IMO, averaging a mindboggling 23 disposals, 11 marks, and 2.3 goals as a playmaking CHF. In the grand final, despite kicking just one goal, I counted at least three direct goal assists, and at least another where he splits a pack to create another goal for Freeborn.
1998
Accolades: All-Australian (Captain), AFLPA MVP (Leigh Matthews Trophy), North Melbourne Best & Fairest (Syd Barker Medal)
Comment: 1998 should have been the GOAT season of any player. Carey very well could have ended the season as a premiership captain, but also statistically was on track to surpass 20 disposals per game (insane for a key forward) and pass his 1996 goals record. Was also the overwhelming favourite to win the Brownlow that year, so was kind of like the people's choice. Also won the Michael Tuck medal, with one of his most iconic games of his career, best onfield the Ansett Cup grand final, when that still mattered. 1998 is still remembered by many as the most dominant season from a player ever, and Carey still racked up arguably his most accoladed year of his career.
1999
Accolades: All-Australian (Captain), Premiership Captain
Comment: Achieves the team success missing from 1998. His 80% win rate (16-4) is the highest in a period of winning. His QF game against the Power is one of his finest. Kicks 10 against a strong Bombers side that also ranks as one of his best. Averages the highest goals per game of his career, playing more as an advanced forward.
2000
Accolades: All-Australian (Captain)
Comment: Still dominant but starting to be ailed by injuries. Played the first 10 games of the season mostly in the backline, yet still manages 69 goals for the season. AA captain at the end of the season.
Honorable mention: I didn't include 1997 for obvious reasons, but his QF game against the 2nd placed Cats in the wet, amassing 23 disposals, 10 marks, 7 goals and setting up another out of 11 total North goals, may be his greatest game of all-time.
Verdict: Carey is a bit like Michael Jordan in a way - there's pre-97 shoulder reconstruction Carey and then post; like 1st 3-peat and 2nd 3-peat Jordan. Obviously pre-97 Carey is more athletic and can actually raise both his arms completely, and whilst not hugely different, pre-97 Carey did average more marks. Post-97 Carey, though, has basically mastered the game, physically even stronger, and we see this with many of his marks from pure body work and skill. Part of me thinks that if Carey didn't hurt his shoulder, 1997 would have been his absolute best - his age 26 year, still athletic peak, yet also with the maturity. He would have steamrolled through the competition that year. But I digress, and splitting hairs, I personally prefer 1996 Carey over any other version.
What's your choice for peak Carey?
1993
| Games | Goals | Goals/Game | Disposals/Game | Marks/Game | W-L-D | Overall W/L | Team Position |
| 19 | 64 | 3.4 | 17.8 | 7.9 | 13-6-0 | 13-7-0 | 6th |
Comment: The year that Carey announces himself as a bonafide superstar of the game. Quite remarkable that Carey is named AA Captain in the first year as captain of his club, and as the second youngest captain ever. Also noteworthy that this is the year that he has his strongest polling season in the Brownlow, finishing equal third, only two votes behind Wanganeen. Tough initiation into finals footy playing Jakovich and the reigning premier Eagles first up, and it shows - Carey plays a poor game to end a great year on a sour note.
1994
| Games | Goals | Goals/Game | Disposals/Game | Marks/Game | W-L-D | Overall W/L | Team Position |
| 19 | 63 | 3.3 | 18.6 | 8.6 | 13-6-0 | 14-10-0 | 3rd |
Comment: Perhaps his least decorated season in terms of accolades, but has arguably his greatest finals series of his career - instrumental in the QF win against the Hawks with jaw-dropping 32 disposals, 10 marks, and 4 goals, as well as almost pulling the Roos to a PF win against the Cats with 24 disposals, 14 marks, and 6 goals. Carey also apparently did it with a torn calf too.
1995
| Games | Goals | Goals/Game | Disposals/Game | Marks/Game | W-L-D | Overall W/L | Team Position |
| 25 | 65 | 2.6 | 18.1 | 7.5 | 16-9-0 | 16-9-0 | 3rd |
Comment: 1995 was not Carey's most dominant in terms of stats and team record, but he did win that year's AFLPA MVP.
1996
| Games | Goals | Goals/Game | Disposals/Game | Marks/Game | W-L-D | Overall W/L | Team Position |
| 25 | 82 | 3.3 | 19.4 | 8.0 | 16-6-0 | 16-6-0 | 1st |
Comment: First premiership year for Carey. A complete masterclass, though curiously this is not his most decorated in terms of accolades, and was overshadowed by his teammate McKernan, who almost won the MVP and Brownlow double. Paul Kelly also got the AA captain node over Carey. Had his record goals tally with 11 against the helpless Dees this year. Has a underrated finals series IMO, averaging a mindboggling 23 disposals, 11 marks, and 2.3 goals as a playmaking CHF. In the grand final, despite kicking just one goal, I counted at least three direct goal assists, and at least another where he splits a pack to create another goal for Freeborn.
1998
| Games | Goals | Goals/Game | Disposals/Game | Marks/Game | W-L-D | Overall W/L | Team Position |
| 25 | 80 | 3.2 | 19.6 | 7.7 | 18-7-0 | 18-7-0 | 2nd |
Comment: 1998 should have been the GOAT season of any player. Carey very well could have ended the season as a premiership captain, but also statistically was on track to surpass 20 disposals per game (insane for a key forward) and pass his 1996 goals record. Was also the overwhelming favourite to win the Brownlow that year, so was kind of like the people's choice. Also won the Michael Tuck medal, with one of his most iconic games of his career, best onfield the Ansett Cup grand final, when that still mattered. 1998 is still remembered by many as the most dominant season from a player ever, and Carey still racked up arguably his most accoladed year of his career.
1999
| Games | Goals | Goals/Game | Disposals/Game | Marks/Game | W-L-D | Overall W/L | Team Position |
| 20 | 76 | 3.8 | 17.7 | 7.3 | 16-4-0 | 20-5-0 | 1st |
Comment: Achieves the team success missing from 1998. His 80% win rate (16-4) is the highest in a period of winning. His QF game against the Power is one of his finest. Kicks 10 against a strong Bombers side that also ranks as one of his best. Averages the highest goals per game of his career, playing more as an advanced forward.
2000
| Games | Goals | Goals/Game | Disposals/Game | Marks/Game | W-L-D | Overall W/L | Team Position |
| 23 | 69 | 3.0 | 18.3 | 7.7 | 15-8-0 | 15-10-0 | 4th |
Comment: Still dominant but starting to be ailed by injuries. Played the first 10 games of the season mostly in the backline, yet still manages 69 goals for the season. AA captain at the end of the season.
Honorable mention: I didn't include 1997 for obvious reasons, but his QF game against the 2nd placed Cats in the wet, amassing 23 disposals, 10 marks, 7 goals and setting up another out of 11 total North goals, may be his greatest game of all-time.
Verdict: Carey is a bit like Michael Jordan in a way - there's pre-97 shoulder reconstruction Carey and then post; like 1st 3-peat and 2nd 3-peat Jordan. Obviously pre-97 Carey is more athletic and can actually raise both his arms completely, and whilst not hugely different, pre-97 Carey did average more marks. Post-97 Carey, though, has basically mastered the game, physically even stronger, and we see this with many of his marks from pure body work and skill. Part of me thinks that if Carey didn't hurt his shoulder, 1997 would have been his absolute best - his age 26 year, still athletic peak, yet also with the maturity. He would have steamrolled through the competition that year. But I digress, and splitting hairs, I personally prefer 1996 Carey over any other version.
What's your choice for peak Carey?
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