Swans may roll diceon McCartin

PATRICK McCartin’s return to AFL football will not come at Moorabbin, as Sydney considers whether to take a risk on the No .1 overall selection.

McCartin, pictured, would need to receive AFL medical clearance to return to football after a series of concussions that he admits turned his life upsidedown.

He has been training all season and is in career-best shape, with Swans football boss Charlie Gardiner saying yesterday Sydney was still considering whether he might fit their needs.

But despite St Kilda monitoring his situation, and McCartin spending plenty of time at the club early in the year, they are unlikely to bring him back onto their list.

St Kilda’s decision is not based around his medical issues but rather shrinking list sizes and the number of development players they will carry on their list.

They will have about 32 established players on their list, plus draftees and rookies, so will need them to be ready to play inRound1.

The Saints have added ruck-forward Shaun McKernan to a list that has key forwards Max King, Tim Membrey,s wing man Josh Battle and a raft of mid-sizers that includes recruit Jack Higgins.

Clubs can add players like McCartin in the next delisted free agent window, as a rookie next month or even if he trained with them as a supplemental selection from January onwards.

But while M cC art in showed glimpses of the brilliant junior form that saw him taken at pick one by St Kilda, those concussions saw him leave the clubinlate2019.

Former AFL researcher Alan Pearce said yesterday clubs would have to consider their duty of care to McCartin if they were to recruit him.

“Players like Shaun Smith have already told him he shouldn’ t do it ,” Pearce said.

“I am sure John Barnes would be the same. Barnesy has only just turned 50 and he has said his quality of life isn’t great. There is the short-term pain in not playing but the long-term gain in your brain health.”