HE PLAYED his 100th match on home turf earlier this year, but Bendigo Bank Bombers captain Nick Carter rates tomorrow night's final as the biggest game he will play in his home town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
To be leading the Bombers into battle in their first home final on the QEO is a goal that Carter is rapt to have achieved.
Tomorrow night's qualifying final will be Carter's 108th game in the VFL, and just his second final.
Before last night's training session at the QEO, Carter said the Matthew Knights-coached Bombers were determined to start their finals campaign by beating Werribee.
''This is a huge night for the football club, and for Bendigo," Carter, 29, said of tackling the Werribee Tigers.
‘‘To have a home final is a fantastic opportunity, and a first for Bendigo.
‘‘Friday night football is something that is new to the city as well, so we are hoping there will be plenty of crowd support," the inspirational on-field leader said.
‘‘It's an exciting time," Carter said of the build-up to a first home final, and a consecutive finals series.
The finals-hype is not only being taken in by experienced players such as Carter, Simon Rosa, Jordan Doering and Justin Blumfield, but the club's youngsters, and Essendon players as well.'‘We have been looking forward to this game for a while now and want to play well before our home crowd," Carter said.
Although beaten in the past four rounds, Carter said there was no panic at the club.
‘‘There have been a few changes made in the past few weeks, both in team structure, and the amount of game time some players have had.
For Carter, last Saturday's match at Geelong was one of the best he has played this season.
‘‘Physically it was the best I have felt after a match for a while." He played across half-forward, but is likely to be back in an on-ball or midfield role against the Tigers.
‘‘A new season starts now, and I'm confident we will play well." Drafted by Fitzroy from the Bendigo Pioneers, Carter went north to the Brisbane Lions, and was later traded to Melbourne.
To be in finals action is a long way from Bendigo's early years in the VFL.
A triple best and fairest winner at what was then the Bendigo Diggers, Carter endured many tough afternoons, in particular a losing stretch of 35 games.
But Carter never doubted a Bendigo team in the VFL would be successful.
The Bombers' build-up to a consecutive finals series began way back last October, with tomorrow night's clash just another step toward what every team aspires to achieve, a premiership.
