Carey's total of 423 premiership games was the elite Australian rules football record until it was broken by Michael Tuck in the 1991 AFL Qualifying Final, and remained the record for most games played by an elite Australian rules footballer born in South Australia until it was broken by Craig Bradley in Round 2 of the 2001 AFL season.
Carey made his senior debut for Glenelg while still attending Seacombe High School, against Central District at Elizabeth Oval in Round 12 of the 1971 SANFL season.
By this time, Carey had moved into the ruck, where he was to play the remainder of his career and help give the Tigers’ small men first use of the ball with his tremendous body strength.
Carey was again among his side's best players during Glenelg's 1982 gruelling finals series, which eventually saw the Tigers fall at the last hurdle for the second consecutive season.
His efforts were all the more admirable considering he had to play three of the finals under the duress of a groin injury which hampered his mobility and forced him to either kick mainly with his non-preferred left foot or handpass to nearby teammates.
The extent of Carey's injury became clear the following week in the first quarter of the Preliminary final against Port Adelaide, when an awkward 35-metre set shot hit the behind post.