A flamboyant player who wore white boots and fronted the Tribunal on numerous occasions due to disciplinary issues, Carman was nicknamed "Fabulous Phil" by those who saw him play.
At the age of 16, Carman left his hometown in western Victoria to play for Norwood in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
Later in the game Carman made an impact on the direction of Vin Cattogio's nose, before throwing the ball into the crowd after a great mark near the boundary.
He spent one year with the Demons, before moving once again, to Essendon, where played two seasons, but was given a 20-week suspension for head-butting boundary umpire Graham Carbery,[2] and also striking St. Kilda's Garry Sidebottom.
[1] Carman then coached a number of regional clubs in Victoria,[3] including Kangaroo Flat[4] and played at full forward for Sandhurst in 1989, kicking 53 goals.
Carman was appointed as captain-coach of Kennington in late 1989, but the club folded prior to the 1990 Bendigo Football League season.