Josh Carr drives North Adelaide back to finals
NORTH Adelaide is back in the finals for the first time since 2013. And driving the resurgence as the Roosters look to wrap up the minor round against the Magpies on Saturday is two former Port Adelaide players.
- Round 19 teams: Redlegs rest midfield star
- Roosters’ fix focus on finals
- Monday Recovery: Can anyone challenge Redlegs?
JOSH Carr refused to be swayed in his thought process after North Adelaide entered the season with a whimper, an insipid 61-point loss to Central District at Elizabeth Oval.
This was the third season of Carr’s tenure. There were just eight wins in those first two years and the club was coming off the wooden spoon.
Carr was unmoved. He said maybe it was just being stubborn, but he had a strong belief in the team and the sort of football it could produce.
While he admits his mindset may have changed had the Roosters arrived at round five and still been losing, he had the utmost confidence in what his players had delivered in the pre-season.
He also had strong belief in his coaching lieutenants. Former Port Adelaide teammate Jacob Surjan had moved to Prospect Oval as head of football development and Trent Mills switched from Goodwood Saints to be an assistant. There was also a change in captaincy with Max Thring taking on the role.
“I was okay,” Carr said. “I believed in the playing group and myself that I could do the job and was teaching the right things from a football perspective.
“I did not have too many doubts. Whether that is ego, or whatever. I believed in the coaching group and I was confident in the process.”
Carr said it was time to deliver and the Roosters did, emphatically.
They responded to the Elizabeth embarrassment with a 138-point thrashing of West Adelaide. It was the first of five successive wins, including victory over Norwood in round four. The Redlegs have not lost since.
The Roosters won nine of their first 11 games to climb to the top of the ladder. And while they have slipped to fifth, there will be finals action for the Roosters.
It’s probably appropriate they will complete their minor round commitments against Port Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturay because it is two ex-Power boys driving the Roosters revival.
“Surj is very energetic and enthusiastic and gets the players to do the extra with their development,” Carr said.
“Coming out of the AFL system, he worked closely with Nathan Bassett as a development coach for the defenders. His impact has been very good.”
Carr and Surjan have always had a strong relationship, without being “super close”. Both are Perth products and Carr claims he had to pull him into line a few times in his early days at Alberton Oval.
“Surj was a very confident kid when he first came into the Power and he played the first three or so games,” Carr said. “He just needed a clip around the ear every now and again. He still does.
“Surj is a very caring person and he can be misunderstood sometimes I reckon because of his enthusiasm.
“He has been really good for the group and the club, he has been exceptional and everyone has embraced him.”
Carr speaks often with his brother Matthew, who played 162 AFL games for Fremantle and St Kilda.
Among his older siblings’ advice has been to stay consistent with his actions. That means not getting too tied up with wins and losses, but focus on teaching and development.
There have been a couple of old-fashioned sprays for his players this season though. He is a highly competitive and hates losing, that was so obvious as a player. In fact, it is that attitude which halted his playing career.
“I finished off at Glenelg in 2010,” he said. “I was thinking of playing the next year, I just wanted to get the enjoyment back again.
“Most guys when they finish their AFL career are burnt out and probably just searching for that feeling again, loving their football.
“But we went out in straight sets in the finals in 2010 and it got to me, I hated it.
“I just had to get away from football. I wanted another year in the SANFL, but it hurt too much, those losses.”
After a year working in the stockbroker industry, Carr returned to the Power to work with the midfield alongside former Adelaide ruckman Shaun Rehn.
Even in those days as an assistant, Carr was uncertain if that was his future. He wanted to coach his own team and the Roosters gave him that opportunity.
“I’ve had the most enjoyment and I’ve found I’m really passionate about it,” he said. “To coach your own team , there is nothing better.”
Carr has no problem switching football off at home, loving his time with wife Karolina and kids Violet, 5, Jude , 3, and Arlo, 1.
“I can have the worst loss you could imagine and I walk into the house and the kids don’t give a shit,” he said. “All they care about is dad is home and having fun with dad.”