Fabulous Phil

An explosive biography about a footballer unlike any other. Phil Carman was capable of tearing a game apart. Despite his talent, he tore his own career apart. When Phil Carman was a kid in Edenhope, he thought he wasn't good enough to play VFL football. But when Carman's father died in a Melbourne hospital, friends noticed a change. While his mates were hanging out together, Carman, at 14, was running long distances around his home town. At 16, he kicked six goals in a half for Edenhope in a trial game against Collingwood. A few months later, Carman was training with Collingwood. The club and the vastness of Melbourne left him unimpressed. Carman returned to Edenhope. At 17, he kicked 89-goals for the senior team. His coach, John McBain, knew Carman was a future star. All he had to do was go to Collingwood. But Carman defied the VFL's zone system that tied him to Collingwood and went to Adelaide at Norwood's invitation. Carman and Norwood officials deliberately broke the rules, paying off a police officer to ensure they obtained a clearance. Incensed Collingwood officials launched the biggest interstate war ever seen in the VFL, forcing Carman out of football for two years. Carman returned to Norwood in 1973 but Collingwood refused to give up. A massive salary convinced him to move to Victoria in 1975. Carman's debut season is remembered as one of the best in VFL history. He was quickly dubbed Fabulous Phil. Despite missing eight games through injury, he won Collingwood's best and fairest, the Copeland Trophy and missed out on the Brownlow Medal by three votes. But the brilliance was punctuated by trouble. Carman clashed with teammates and coaches. He missed the 1977 drawn grand final and the replay after being suspended for striking Michael Tuck. Collingwood lost…