Ex-Panther earns SANFL spot

 

Former Bell Post Hill big man Brock Carter has capped an incredible two-year rise from GDFNL reserves player to state league footballer.

Carter, who spent last year with North Cairns alongside returning Panther Boe Collins and has spent the summer playing in the Northern Territory, has signed with SANFL club Glenelg.

Carter arrived at Myers Reserve in 2021, having previously played with Heathmere in the South West District League.

He played the opening two rounds in the reserves before earning senior selection, helping Bell Post Hill to a third-place finish after a shortened home-and-away season before COVID-19 halted any finals action.

Former coach Justin Tarr says no one at Bell Post Hill is surprised with the progression of Carter, who was a member of the AFL Cairns Team of the Year in 2022.

“We’re very happy for Brock,” Tarr said. “He started off in the reserves with us, and now he’s signed at a SANFL club.

“Anyone who played with him could see how much raw talent he had.

“He’s athletic; he’s got great skills for a big fella; he’s got a big leap.

“All he needed to do was take his footy as seriously as he possibly could.”

“He’s getting a proper crack now.”

Tarr wouldn’t be surprised if Carter, who represented the NTFL in its recent clash with WAFL club South Fremantle after starring with PINT, found himself on an AFL list in the future.

“I think that’s definitely the goal for him, and he’s aiming high,” Tarr said.

“If he falls short, so be it; at least he’s having a red-hot crack at it.

“He had multiple offers he had to sort through, and he knocked back a lot of money to go to the SANFL and give it a crack.”

Image: Brock Carter in action for Bell Post Hill in 2021. (Sports Media Image/Marcel Berens)