In a series new to 2019, we revisit moments in history involving the Sydney Swans’ round-by-round opposition.

History, nostalgia and memories form a special part of what makes Australian rules football great, and we hope the Footy Flashbacks series reignites some of your fondest Swans moments.

In the latest edition, we revisit the day former Swans full-back Rod Carter kicked his only goal in a 293-game career.

The man who holds the record for most VFL/AFL games played before kicking a goal had hardly spared a thought for it until a chance encounter with Geelong’s trainer.

Rod Carter had played “190 or so games” without hitting the scoreboard, and the acclaimed Sydney Swans full-back was reminded of exactly that on a visit to Kardinia Park.

“The Geelong trainer came up to me and said to me, ‘Who do you think has played the longest without kicking a goal?’ And I said, ‘Gary Malarkey – it’d have to be’. And he said, ‘No, it’s you!’ So that sort of motivated me,” Carter told Swans Media.

“The fact I held the record for the most games without kicking a goal didn’t sit well with me. It really got me pumped. I thought, ‘I’ve just got to get a goal’. I was quite horrified. I thought, ‘Geez, I’ve got to do something about that’.

“My career had always been about stopping blokes from getting goals; I had never really thought about getting a goal. The only times I had thought about it was when I was having a shot on goal, which wasn’t often, and I had always missed. So I had never really thought about it until he tuned me in to just how well I was going. I was pretty keen to put a curb on that; I wanted to at least end up with one goal.”

Rod Carter in action for the Sydney Swans in 1989.

Carter kicked his breakthrough goal as Sydney met Melbourne at the SCG in Round 17, 1986, and he’d retire in 1990 with just one major from 293 games.

But Carter, 31 years of age and playing his 215^th match, says teammate Warwick Capper very nearly cost him his opportunity.

“I decided to venture up to the forward line because I had hardly touched the ball in the game. I can’t remember going through the centre too often in those days, but I ended up being around the half-forward flank. I ventured up and I called for the ball off Warwick Capper, and he’s looked at me and just burned me. I’m calling for the ball and he’s looked at me and just completely ignored me,” Carter said.

“He ended up handballing to me, but he had a really good look and I thought, ‘Oh no, he’s not going to give it to me’. So I yelled at him again with a bit more vigour and with a little more spice on it, and he ended up giving me the ball – and that was the miracle. Actually getting the ball off him was the miracle, not kicking the goal.

“He was a typical full-forward,” Carter laughed. 

“As soon as he got the ball he wanted to know where the goals were.

“But I’m pretty sure that was beyond Warwick’s distance, so he ended up giving me the ball, which was quite funny."

Rod Carter watching on with his usual steely-eyed focus during a 1989 match.

While Carter played 214 games before kicking a goal, second-placed Basil McCormack is a long way behind on 162, and Joe Murdoch rounds out the top three on 143.

Former Swan Hec McKay, who played 152 matches for South Melbourne between 1926 and 1935, sits 11^th on the list after breaking the drought in his 100^th game. 

Carter received Capper’s handball in the right-forward pocket, steadied and wobbled through an ugly drop punt. 

The Swans would smash the Demons by 124 points, and they were already more than 100 points ahead when ‘Tilt’ slotted the goal, but Carter says the reaction of his teammates was nonetheless wild.

“Blokes were jumping up and down and I reckon I was carrying three blokes back to full-back,” Carter chuckled.

“I got back into the backline and the blokes were still celebrating. No one knew what was going on. The Melbourne blokes were looking around thinking, ‘What the hell is going on?’ All of my teammates – they were just absolutely pumped. I think the umpire had to wait so he could bounce the ball.

“I couldn’t believe I had kicked a goal, and it’s just an amazing moment to look back on.”

Rod Carter (right) being inducted into the Sydney Swans Hall of Fame in 2011.

Carter played junior footy for Banyule in Melbourne’s north-east, before making his VFL debut at Fitzroy in 1974.

He made 76 appearances for Fitzroy before joining South Melbourne in 1980, adding 217 games which saw him inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame in 2011.

Carter hasn’t left Sydney since retiring in 1990.

The 64-year-old is teaching PDHPE at Sydney Technical High School, an academically selective school in the city’s south, and he’s the proud father of three children.

Kaitlin is 27, Nathan 23 and Angus 17.

Outside work he loves to keep fit, riding his bike, swimming, kayaking, lifting weights and walking the dog whenever he has a chance.

And he’s still in close contact with a long list of former Swans teammates, including Brett Scott, David Murphy, Dennis Carroll, Craig Holden, Neil Cordy and Stephen Taubert.

Many moons have passed since Geelong’s runner laughed at him, but Carter has four words he’d like to share.

“Thanks for the motivation.”