Kingborough stalwart Tyler Carter set to notch up TSL senior game 150

A favourite son of Kingborough has reflected on his journey to TSL senior game 150 on the eve of his milestone match.

Tyler Carter will play TSL senior game 150 for Kingborough against North Launceston on Saturday. Photo: Anthony Corke

From the winless seasons to the premiership success, Tyler Carter has been the one constant in Kingborough’s forward 50 for the last decade.

The Tigers favourite son is just one of three players who featured in their TSL debut still a part of the current line-up and will notch up TSL senior game 150 against North Launceston at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.

An unorthodox but highly talented tall forward, Carter has made a name for himself as both one of the competition’s most exciting players to watch and one of its most consistent goal kickers.

“I guess it’s good to tick that box off. I know a lot of the good players around the comp, who are a lot better than myself, have already notched up this milestone so it’s good to be in some pretty good company,” Carter said.

Carter made his TSL debut in the Tigers first ever TSL clash back in 2014. Picture: Luke Bowden.

But while it’s been a journey that’s seen him taste some recent team success, it’s one that hasn’t been without both its dark days and injury setbacks.

The 28 year-old suffered a nasty broken ankle back in May 2021 that saw him miss almost 12 months of football.

While the 2023 premiership and the Tigers first ever TSL win rank up there as career highlights, Carter says being able to return and play a role within Kingborough’s recent success is also something he’s proud of.

“I knew I would come back and play, but I didn’t know what level I would be able to keep going at,” he said.

“So to be still travelling okay and contributing, despite limping around most of the time, is really pleasing.

“I’m a pretty positive person but obviously, it hurt me because we hadn’t had much success building up through those years. And we played finals that year so to watch on and not be able to contribute, that was the main thing that hurt me. But in terms of getting back and stuff, I’ve been pretty fortunate for no other injuries, really, throughout my career.”

Played at both ends of the ground during his early days in the competition, Carter credits current Kingborough coach Trent Baumeler for his switch as a mainstay forward but admits the Tigers early woes allowed him to play earlier than he should have.

Carter is the Tigers all-time leading TSL goal kicker. Picture: Linda Higginson

“I’m very appreciative of his (Baumeler’s) work and he’s supported me as other coaches did,” Carter said.

“I probably wasn’t up to senior football when I first started and no one really knew if I was a back man or a forward but Trent stuck by me, put me forward and left me there, and found a bit of a role for me inside 50.”