The Collingwood Player Archive: Phil Carman 1977

Phil Carman played for Collingwood from 1975 to 1978, appearing in 66 games and kicking 142 goals. This footage covers the 1977 season. Phil won the Copeland Trophy in his first season, was leading goal kicker in 1975 and 1976 and vice captain in 1978. In his four seasons with Collingwood he made enough of an impact to be described as one of the most talented and exciting players to ever play for the club. For more information about Phil Carman's career at Collingwood, go to: forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/...

[@fred1eful]

Phil carman was a player with immense ability, when he was with Collingwood , people rated him as the best player in the competition, if he managed himself better and others could have been a Afl legend , Unbelievable skill

[@steve8510]

He was elite below the neck.

[@JCStorm76]

Would have won the Brownlow easily if he didn’t miss 9 matches and would also be a premiership player if he didn’t miss the 1977 grand final through suspension because I have no doubt Collingwood would have won that drawn match. In fact they were that far in front at 3/4 time they should have still won anyway

[@vorlons100]

carmen is a dud cost us big time

[@benjaminparkinson5255]

The man who cost the pies the Years premiership and head butted an umpire playing for the bomber's

[@mattmaloney9426]

Biggest mistake of Tom Hafey's tenure at Collingwood was getting rid of Carmen b4 the '79 season. Maybe he would have been the difference against Carlton in the GF?

[@richardpr23]

On talent alone, definitely but from what I've read, it sounds like Hafey and the other players had had enough of Phil by the end of 78. The recent biography of Phil is well worth a read. A fascinating story.

[@hanajinks1044]

@@richardpr23 That sounds a very interesting read. The conversation here brings to mind the Gazza situation at Cats a bit over a decade on from this, where his teammates were happy to cut him some slack. I'd heard that everyone had had enough of Phil and he certainly did seem to have a few idiosyncrasies. Kink and Daicos in tandem were hard enough to stop and with Phil playing in front of them would've formed some attack...l know hindsight is 20/20 but I'd be interested to know if some of his teammates from that era regret that he moved on.

[@richardpr23]

@@hanajinks1044 Yes, it’s a good comparison to Gezza and an interesting thought about how Carman would have gone in a new look team. His bio mentioned that when he got to North Melbourne they didn’t tolerate any dysfunctional behaviour right from the start and he felt he probably needed that stance earlier in his career. What might have been…..

[@hanajinks1044]

@@richardpr23 Clubs seem to be run these days along the lines of an army unit such is the Regimentation - still not convinced that sport and business can coalesce. I'm also reminded by this of the Kink situation. I'd been going to Essendon games for a few years by the time he'd arrived and had really only seen him on replays. We marvelled at just how good he was and how unfathomable it was that Collingwood had let him go. Can you remember what your thoughts were at the time? I seem to remember the knock on him was that he was too inconsistent but Essendon had a top side and he was always amongst the best.

[@richardpr23]

@@hanajinks1044 I remember it being a big surprise and remember him playing some good games for Essendon but I think the view at the time was that he was delivering less and less at the Pies and we were overhauling the list. His Open Mike interview is quite good. I think he said he needed a change. Him and Sheedy didn’t seem to have a happy ending.