Paddy McCartin

Patrick McCartin (born 19 April 1996) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously played for the St Kilda Football Club from 2015 to 2019. He was drafted as the number one pick in the 2014 AFL draft.[1]

Paddy McCartin
McCartin playing for St Kilda in April 2018
Personal information
Full name Patrick McCartin
Date of birth (1996-04-19) 19 April 1996
Place of birth Hobart, Tasmania
Original team(s) Geelong Falcons (TAC Cup) Geelong Grammar
Draft No. 1, 2014 National draft
Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 100 kg (220 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 39
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2015–2019 St Kilda 35 (34)
2022–2023 Sydney 28 (1)
Total 63 (35)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2023.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career

St Kilda (2015-2019)

McCartin finished his education at Geelong Grammar on a football scholarship after attending St Joseph's College, Geelong from years 7 to 10. He played junior football for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup and Victoria Country at the AFL Under 18 Championships.[2]

He made his AFL debut in round 3 of the 2015 AFL season in St Kilda's loss against Collingwood. He was selected as a late replacement for St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt who pulled out due to a calf injury.[3] McCartin finished the 2015 season with six senior games and three goals to his name. Prior to the 2016 season, he signed a two year contract extension which would keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2018 season.[4]

McCartin's 2016 season was interrupted by injury, including three separate concussions. The first concussion was suffered in St Kilda's Round 3 win against Collingwood at the MCG, which kept him out of the senior team until his return in Round 9 against Essendon. Subsequent concussions were suffered in Round 11 against Adelaide and Round 15 against Gold Coast and finally a collision with Nick Vlastuin of Richmond in Round 22 led to McCartin sustaining a broken collarbone. Due to these injuries, McCartin was restricted to 11 games in 2016, adding 14 goals to his career total.[5]

Playing for St Kilda's VFL affiliate club Sandringham in June 2017, McCartin suffered a further concussion.[6] This was McCartin's 6th concussion in 4 years. He finished 2017 with only 5 senior AFL games.[7]

McCartin's eighth concussion since 2014 came in a JLT Community Series match against the Western Bulldogs in March 2019.[8] McCartin ultimately did not play a senior game for St Kilda in 2019. He was delisted by St Kilda at the conclusion of the 2019 AFL season to allow him to deal with complications resulting from repeated concussions. St Kilda head of football Simon Lethlean stated that the club would be open to re-adding McCartin to their list after a break in 2020.[9]

Sydney (2021-2023)

In 2021, McCartin joined the Sydney Swans VFL team.[10] In January 2022, he was signed as a rookie by the Swans as part of the pre-season supplemental selection period.[11] In Round 17, McCartin played his 50th Australian Football League game for Sydney in their 53 point win against Western Bulldogs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He starred in this game having 22 disposals and 9 intercepts. McCartin was part of the Swans side that went down in the 2022 Grand Final by 81 pts Vs Geelong. He had 7 disposals whilst kicking one of Sydney's 8 goals.

In Round 4 of the 2023 AFL season McCartin, whilst fighting for a ground ball, grazed his head on the grass causing him to be concussed. This raised the conversation between the media and football critics such as Leigh Montagna on whether playing footy is worth causing longterm concussion problems for McCartin. On the 31st of May, 2023 it was announced that McCartin would not play anymore games for Sydney for the rest of the season. This was due to concussion symptoms not going away and McCartin needing the extra time to recover.[12]

On August 14 2023 McCartin announced his retirement from AFL football due to concussion issues.[13]

Statistics

Updated to the end of 2023.[14]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2015St Kilda32 6354313562680.50.87.22.29.34.31.3
2016St Kilda32 111465621774841.30.55.11.97.04.40.4
2017St Kilda32 5584018582351.01.68.03.611.64.61.0
2018St Kilda32 131217913512662120.91.37.02.79.74.80.9
2019St Kilda32 0––––––––––––––
2022Sydney39 241022965294121230.00.09.52.712.35.01.0
2023Sydney39 400309391530.00.07.52.29.73.70.7
Career 633536489161650280520.50.57.72.510.34.40.8

    Personal life

    His younger brother, Tom, was drafted by the Sydney Swans at pick number 33 in the 2017 AFL draft.[15] The two brothers first played against each other in Round 12 2018 at Docklands Stadium.[16]

    At age nine, McCartin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.[17]

    References
    1. Collins, Ben (27 November 2014). "The chosen one - McCartin comes out on top after epic journey". afl.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    2. Wade, Nick (22 November 2014). "AFL Draft 2014: Paddy McCartin in frame for No.1 pick as forward keeps cool before draft". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    3. Waterworth, Ben (17 April 2015). "Paddy McCartin's Mum and Dad frantically rush to make AFL debut for St Kilda against Collingwood". Fox Sports.
    4. Morris, Tom (15 January 2016). "Paddy McCartin contract: St Kilda forward signs two-year contract extension". Fox Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    5. Gabelich, Josh (10 October 2016). "Season review: Paddy McCartin". saints.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    6. Navaratnam, Dinny (24 June 2017). "Another concussion for luckless Saint Paddy McCartin". afl.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    7. "McCartin: I thought I may never play again". The Age. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
    8. McGowan, Marc; Navaratnam, Dinny (26 May 2019). "'Shell of a person': Saint's heartbreaking admission on concussion battle". afl.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    9. "Saints keep doors open for delisted former No.1 pick Paddy McCartin". 7news.com.au. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
    10. Pegan, Martin (15 April 2021). "Paddy's back: Former No.1 crosses border to play in VFL season-opener". afl.com.au. Australian Football League. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
    11. Keating, Mitch (31 January 2022). "Swans sign former St Kilda forward". Zero Hanger. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    12. "Paddy McCartin's season over at the Sydney Swans as concussion symptoms linger". afl.com.au. 31 May 2023.
    13. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1009000/concussion-forces-former-no-1-pick-into-early-retirement
    14. "Paddy McCartin". AFL Tables. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
    15. Sydney Swans Media (24 November 2017). "Pick 33: Tom McCartin". Sydney Swans. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
    16. Ryan, Michael (9 June 2018). "McCartin's unusual family reunion". saints.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
    17. Quayle, Emma (24 November 2014). "How potential No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin got his footy career organised".
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