Australia’s Cricket World Cup hero Alex Carey spent footy season in SFL with Flagstaff Hill in 2015
He’s become a star at the Cricket World Cup but Alex Carey’s season playing country footy wasn’t far from his mind when his old teammates were there to watch his Lord’s masterclass.
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Before Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey was belting the Poms and Kiwis around Lord’s at the Cricket World Cup he was pulling on the boots in bush footy at Flagstaff Hill.
Carey spent the winter of 2015 playing for the Falcons in the Southern Football League in between Redbacks’ commitments.
While his 15-game season at the club came a year before the Falcons started their 2016-18 premiership run, he has since risen through the state ranks to Australia’s first-choice white ball keeper.
Carey remains a favourite son at Flaggies – known to many as the family club.
An impromptu trip to England by several members of that family to see Carey carve it up in the World Cup proved a trip to remember.
Andrew Shearer, an A grade premiership player with Flaggies, Carey’s older brother Adam and Falcons’ player Sam Napier all made the dash to England last month to surprise and support Alex.
Timing proved everything with the trio treated to an Carey masterclass, 71 from 72 balls, as Australia beat New Zealand at Lord’s and the wicketkeeper earned man of the match.
They also saw the Aussies beat England.
Shearer, 27, who is Carey’s best mate and was in his wedding party, said the chance to watch his pal shine in the world cup was fantastic.
“It was just an amazing experience,’’ Shearer said.
“We were only there for seven days but it was just something we were thrilled to be able to do. The trip was a bucket-list moment.
“Alex was best man at my wedding in April this year and it was so good to be able to see him again this time.
“No matter what Alex did he was always going to succeed, from the early days with Flaggies, to his cricket and even his time at GWS although that didn’t work out.
“His story is his resilience. He stuck at it when most people would have just given up.’’
Carey’s brother Adam, 32, said his brother deserved his success.
“We are just so very proud of him,’’ Adam said.
“It was just awesome to be there and we had a tour of Lord’s, by ourselves, which was amazing.
“We met some of the players, saw Greg Chappell and sat up in the balcony.’’
Flaggy supporters will be hoping for a Thursday victory against England and a win in the final on Sunday.
After the world cup, whether Carey makes the Ashes team or not, he will line up with Sussex in the T20 Blast, a professional cricket competition for English and Welsh counties.
Fellow Adelaide Striker Rashid Khan and coach Jason Gillespie will also be involved with Sussex.