Carroll was recruited by the Swans in the VFL via a zoning rule, which enabled the Swans to recruit players from New South Wales. His first season was playing out of the Lake Oval in Melbourne in 1981, before moving with the Swans permanently to Sydney.
Carroll, a back flanker, became known as one of the finest kicks in the VFL, with the ability to dispose of the ball equally well on either foot. As an experienced campaigner and local product, Carroll was selected to captain the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League, an honour which he held for seven seasons between 1986 and 1992, during some of the club's darkest days and the brink of extinction. He represented both Victoria and New South Wales at State of Origin level.
Carroll retired from the AFL in 1993. During his career he totalled 219 games for the Swans and was named on the Swans team of the century.[2] The award for the most improved player at the Sydney Swans, the Dennis Carroll Award is named in his honour.[3] The Sydney Cricket Ground has named a room the Kippax/Carroll room in honour of Dennis Carroll and cricketer Alan Kippax.[4]
After retiring in 1993, Dennis spent four years as Sydney reserves coach and was later the Swans' match committee chairman.
References
^Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim. The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers (5th ed.). Melbourne Victoria: Crown Content. p. 93. ISBN1-74095-001-1.
Victoria 16.12 (108) defeated South Australia 16.8 (104), at Football Park, 15 May 1984
Western Australia 21.16 (142) defeated Victoria 21.12 (138), at Subiaco Oval, 17 July 1984
South Australia 18.17 (125) defeated Victoria 17.13 (115), at Football Park, 13 May 1986, crowd: 43,143
Western Australia 21.11 (137) d Victoria 20.14 (134), at Subiaco Oval, 8 July 1986, crowd: 39,863
Semi-Final: South Australia 12.8 (80) defeated New South Wales 8.11 (59), at Football Park, 3 March 1988 3rd Play-Off: New South Wales 10.8 (68) defeated Western Australia 9.12 (66), at Football Park, 5 March 1988