He’s kept wickets at Lord’s, toured India and stood in the cauldron of an Ashes Test in the Baggy Green - but when it comes to his first sporting love, Australian cricketer Alex Carey is just another Crows tragic.
The South Australian, who also spent time on the Giants’ inaugural AFL list before switching back to cricket, will be among the Crows’ faithful at Adelaide Oval on Friday night for the Club’s do-or-die semi-final.
Despite living through plenty of sporting highs in the famous Baggy Green, nothing takes him back quite like his earliest football memories, barracking for the Club that’s been in his blood since childhood.
“I’m heading to the game Friday night and I can’t wait - my love for the club began with Mum and Dad - they were Crows fans - still are - and like most families, you’re brought up into a football Club,” Carey said.
“The ‘97 and the ‘98 Grand Finals are my early memories - I would’ve been six and seven at the time and loved my footy.
“Dad went across, he caught the bus over (to Melbourne) and brought us home a scarf each as well, so I think they’re the early memories for me of being a Crows fan.
“I am a football tragic, or a nuffy I guess you call it. I watch all the AFL shows and I listen to all the radio shows and I speak to some of the players as well, so I keep across everything.”
Carey, who transitioned to domestic cricket when he returned to SA in 2012 following playing for the Giants in the NEAFL, said supporting Adelaide again was a no brainer.
“It was quite easy for me to be honest, I went to a Showdown and I walked out of there knowing exactly which team I loved, and that was the Crows,” Carey, who also played for the Crows’ team in a T20 Showdown charity game in 2020, said.
“When you’re involved in the system for a little bit, you probably lose a little bit of that supporter appeal. But once I had finished up it was really clear which team I supported.
“I often get asked if I have a soft spot for the Giants and I guess there is a little bit there - they pointed me back into the cricket direction, so I have to thank them for that.
“Having some close relationships with those guys has been great and I am certainly a true Adelaide Crows fan.”
Carey has had a relatively busy winter, having featured for Australia in its recent ODI series against South Africa.
Although not able to attend many Crows games live at Adelaide Oval, it never stopped Carey from cheering from afar.
“In the Australian team there’s no other Crows fans, we’ve only got Travis Head who’s the other South Australian but he’s a Port fan, so there’s that rivalry,” Carey said.
“Then there’s guys from all over the country, so I’m on my own cheering in front of the TV.
“I missed the qualifying final against Collingwood because I had some Cricket Australia media commitments up in Brisbane, but I am very excited to go to Friday night’s game.
“Nicksy is a great coach and Jordan (Dawson) is a great leader and they’re a great team, so I’m excited for their opportunity. I’m proud to see the success they’ve had this year - it’s been outstanding what they’ve been able to achieve.”
The 34-year-old wicketkeeper is no stranger to success, having scored a fourth-innings century during the Sheffield Shield Final in April to help South Australia break a 29-year title drought.
And Carey is daring to dream, with a hope of a Crows flag in the same year.
“Seeing the excitement that South Australia had around the Sheffield Shield win in the cricket this year was unbelievable,” Carey said.
“We are very much a supportive state of our teams and if the Crows were able to lift it (the Premiership Cup) it would be very special.
“If it was a Sheffield Shield and AFL double in South Australia this year, it would be pretty amazing, but if not this year, then I don’t think it’s far away for the Crows, they’ve set up the list to have success for years to come.”
Adelaide faces Hawthorn in a do-or-die semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, with the first bounce at 7.10pm.
The match is sold out but will be broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and Kayo.
