The star Tiger, 29, is on the road to recovery after post-season knee surgery but admits his best may be behind him.

Carey, who has booted 119 goals over the past two seasons, revealed his operation late last year was successful but would only relieve, not fix, his ongoing problem.

“It’s never going to be the same,” Carey admitted yesterday.

“Obviously I battled a fair bit last year with it.

“I’d like to think I’m still up to it but we’ll have to wait and see.

“It will always hinder me.”

Carey, who won two best and fairests at Myrtleford before joining the Tigers, said the bestcase scenario for a return would be about half-way through the season.

But the triple premiership star said that date was far from definite.

“I don’t have much of an idea at this stage,” Carey said.

Carey has been close to Albury’s most valuable player over the past four seasons and played a major role in the club’s most recent premierships.

He booted 67 goals last season, with a career-best haul of 11 against Wodonga Raiders in round 16 the highlight.

Carey has been restricted to boxing and weight sessions at training.

“It will be a while before I’m running again,” he said.

Meanwhile, coaches Daniel Maher and Chris Hyde put the rest of the Tiger troops through their paces at Albury Sportsground last night.

Maher said he had been impressed by the training form of the club’s young brigade of players.

“Guys like Jack Brooks, Joel O’Connell, Will Blomeley and Andrew Dennis are all going really well,” Maher said.

“Even a few of the bigger guys like Benny Dower and Will Haberecht are showing plenty of good signs.”