PADDY TRAINS WITH JOEYS
FORMER St Kilda forward Paddy McCartin is back training with mates at St Joseph’s as he attempts to relaunch his AFL career.
McCartin has been training with his junior club this week but Joeys coach Paul Carson ruled out a local playing return this year for the spearhead, if the season goes ahead.
The former No.1 draft pick suffered eight concussions across five years — the most recent during last year’s pre-season competition. He was delisted by St Kilda last year in an agreement to put his career on hold.
McCartin played junior football at St Joseph’s and the Geelong Falcons graduate was recruited to the Saints with the opening selection in the 2014 draft.
Carson said McCartin would continue to train with the GFL club.
“We’re just helping him out anyway we can in his fitness and in his football,” Carson said.
“If that can help him stay in good shape and ready to launch back into the AFL, that’s fantastic.”
Local football clubs began training on May 25 and current restrictions allow for two groups of 20 on an oval at one time.
AFL Victoria has asked the State Government for contact training to resume on June 29 in the hope games could start in July.
All country and suburban competitions must be finished by Sunday, October 18, under an agreement between AFL Victoria and Cricket Victoria.
In an Instagram post in March, McCartin said: “Concussions are life zapping, and I’m super lucky to have had amazing support through it all. At the moment I’m back running, training and doing everything I was before, back to living a normal life.”
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten told Footy Classified the Saints would consider redrafting the 35-game player.
Carson said McCartin had a group of mates at St Joseph’s and he was enjoying being back in a team environment.
He said he had joked with McCartin about pulling on the red, gold and black this year.
“In the back of my mind was that he’s a one-point player and the big fella leading out of the goalsquare, geez it would be nice,” he said.
“He’d draw a nice crowd down at Drew Reserve (but) I think that’s probably a real long shot.
“I was half-serious but I think he just laughed it off because it’s probably not on the radar for the big fella.”