This Sunday’s Balfours Showdown will be Josh Carr’s last match for the Port Adelaide Football Club.
The combative midfielder will retire from the AFL after the Showdown - a match-up in which he forged his reputation and currently has a perfect 9-0 win-loss record.
The Showdown will be Carr’s 207th AFL game (124 Port Adelaide, 83 Fremantle).
Carr says playing AFL footy has fulfilled a boyhood dream.
“As a kid, playing AFL football was all I ever dreamed about,” Carr said. “To be given an opportunity to play for a great traditional club like Port Adelaide was simply unbelievable.
“From the first day I walked into the place you could tell just how proud this club was. To be part of it - and then be part of a successful era which included the 2004 premiership - was amazing and something I’ll always cherish.”
Power coach Matthew Primus paid tribute to Carr.
“Josh was quite simply one of my all-time favourite teammates,” Primus said.
“To see how he developed his game to play on the superstar players of the competition like Voss, Buckley and Ricciuto was just outstanding. He could negate those blokes and yet still win his own footy.
“Josh made so many of our players walk taller. It was extraordinary that he could get so much out of his body through his attitude and just sheer will-power. He was a major cog in our 2004 premiership side and he can proudly retire knowing he’s given his all.”
Josh Carr at Port Adelaide (1999-2004, 2009-2010):
- Selected by Port Adelaide in the first round (Pick 7) of the 1998 AFL National Draft, from East Fremantle
- Best First Year Player - 2000
- Most Improved - 2001
- Fos Williams Medal - 2002, 2003
- Premiership player 2004
- 207 AFL games (124 Port Adelaide, 83 Fremantle)
Josh Carr at Fremantle (2005 - 2008)
- Vice-captain, 2007-2008
