 He played for them again in 2011 in the North East Australian Football League, but he wasn't given a place in their inaugural AFL squad for the 2012 season and had to return to Adelaide

When Carey returned to Adelaide he initially intended to return to the Glenelg Football Club, but he decided to switch sports and went back into grade cricket with the Glenelg Cricket Club for the 2012–13 season.He started out as a specialist batsman and averaged close to 50 for Glenelg in all formats.His form warranted his first call-up to represent South Australia.