When Noel Carter, who in those days was known as Noel and not Charlie, flew into Perth on December 20, 1977 to take up a one-year contract with South Fremantle, the Bulldogs were looking for a solid contribution from the 22-year-old rover.
He arrived with another rover John Wise from Collingwood who didn’t make it.
Carter, a 1973 Richmond premiership player, was on a “look and perform mission” for a year with Souths, after rejecting an approach by Port Adelaide and at a time when opportunities were drying up at the VFL Tigers.
Carter would become a champion at the Bulldogs, and a Premiership winning Captain in 1980, delivering many magical and memorable moments across his WAFL career.
The Round 10 Foundation Day Derby in 1983 holds a special place in his memory and for all who witnessed it. Respected football writer Geoff Christian rated it as the best WAFL home-and away match he had covered.
At East Fremantle Oval before 17,560 supporters, Souths were kicking against the breeze in the tense final term, but second-gamer Nicky Winmar kept them in it, kicking three goals. With scores locked at 19.13 (East Fremantle) to 18.19, East Fremantle’s Michael Brennan, who would become an inaugural West Coast Eagle, gave away a free kick when he caught Carter high in a tackle.
The siren sounded. Carter was 55m from goal, and needed only to score to win the match.
His rule of thumb for the type of kick he elected was to use a drop punt for anything around 45m or under, and a torpedo for longer distances. “It wasn’t a kick we were told to put away and not use,” Carter said. “I kicked a few torpedo goals in the 1980 grand final, and I was confident in using it because it was something we practised at training.”
So, a torpedo it was.
“I have very clear memories of that instance,” he said. “I knew the scores were level and I knew that everybody was looking at me. It was into the breeze, and I knew any score would do, so I aimed at the left-hand goal post. I thought if I hit this properly, we will get there, and we did get there.”
Aside from beating East Fremantle, always a joy for the Bulldogs through any era, the fleeting moment of drama illustrated Carter’s ability to work calmly under intense pressure, like he did through critical home and away games and finals during his eight years at the club.
Carter’s “one year look and see” turned into eight brilliant years not just as a favourite son of the Bulldog faithful but as a highly respected player among his peers from across the League.
A brilliant on-baller who kicked multiple big bags of goals in games and he was another big-game player in an era of very very good players - he was a superb kick and always neat and precise and quite good overhead for his size while possessing a great sidestep.