Hard work pays off

THERE were days when Tom Carey questioned why he was putting himself through rigorous, mind-numbing rehabilitation.

However the 17-year-old Hermit Park star has a dream to ascend to the ranks of the AFL.

It is a vision that could come to fruition sooner rather than later, as he plans to head to the Gold Coast next year in a bid to further impress those at the Suns.

Already in the AFL club’s North Queensland Academy, the Townsville midfielder has impressed coaches with his work ethic and determination in coming back from an ACL injury that derailed his 2019 season and threatened his future in Aussie rules.

While playing representative football last year, Carey heard “a massive crack” in his knee that spelled the end of his season.

But his fortitude through the toughest of times impressed North Queensland God Coast Suns Academy coordinator John Deitz tremendously, who said the young Tiger had every chance of making it to the plateaus of the sport courtesy of his character. Even when Carey returned to training he had his doubts. Every fitness session, every training drill without a game to look forward to begged the question ‘is this what I really want?’

But once he took to the field and picked up the Sherrin again, it all fell into place.

“Nearly every day you think why am I doing this? It would be so much easier to give up, or it’d be easier to focus on school,” Carey said. “(But) really it was just knowing I was there, knowing that I was a part of that squad and the academy.

“It really helped. I was thinking I’m there for a reason, they wouldn’t just pick me, so that helped me get through it. If I keep doing this, and I come back better, then how good can I be?”

Deitz said the fact Carey was able to continue his rehab on his own would hold him in good stead and the next step in his career could come quickly given he had now started playing senior football.

But despite the attention he has received, Carey is not getting ahead of himself.

While the AFL is the ultimate goal Carey said he needed to remain realistic.

“Everyone wants to make it to the highest level but you have to be realistic with your goals,” Carey said.

“Everyone who plays wants to make it, it’s extremely hard but I’m definitely putting in the work.”