McCartin hopeful of return after year off
RECENT test results have left sidelined St Kilda forward Paddy McCartin confident he can make a return to the AFL after a year off to combat the effects of repeated concussions.
The Saints on Monday announced they had delisted McCartin in a mutual decision aimed at allowing the 23-yearold to focus on his recovery.
The 2014 No.1 draft pick suffered his most recent concussion — his eighth — in the 2019 pre-season and he has not featured at any level of football since.
But the former Geelong Falcon remains optimistic he can return to full health and play at the highest level again, after receiving positive news from recent test results.
“I got a bit of a different opinion and I learned that I can potentially play again,” he told SEN yesterday.
“There were a lot of times where I was like ‘stuff this, I can’t go through this again because it’s been so difficult’.
“But when I went in there on Friday (to get test results) they gave me the confidence that it can correct itself.”
When asked how his family feels about his worrying series of head injuries, McCartin revealed that they are pleased to see him with a smile on his face again. “They’re really happy that I’m feeling OK in myself right now, because there were times I was struggling just to get up,” he said.
The Saints haven’t closed the door on McCartin returning to their list for the 2021 season and that appears to be his preferred option, although he will have the option of joining another club as a delisted free agent.
“They’ve been great ... They haven’t been through anything like this before either,” McCartin said of St Kilda.
“I’ll work out what this rehabilitation ... looks like and hopefully I can tie it in with being at the club and seeing the boys. Then all going to plan, (I’ll) potentially get back on the list next year.”
THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES WHERE I WAS LIKE ‘STUFF THIS, I CAN’T GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN BECAUSE IT’S BEEN SO DIFFICULT’. BUT WHEN I WENT IN THERE ON FRIDAY ( TO GET TEST RESULTS) THEY GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE THAT IT CAN CORRECT ITSELF. PADDY McCARTIN