Patrick McCartin Biography

Sydney coach John Longmire has urged for speculation surrounding Patty McCartin's future to cool as the key defender deals with another concussion that threatens his career.

"The advice we've had is to just focus on his recovery - that's the most important thing for him to be putting his energy into right here and now. To be thinking beyond that is just a step too far," Longmire said.

Paddy McCartin suffers another head knock against Port Adelaide and is substituted out of the game just 10 minutes into the opening quarter after competing for a groundball with Power forward Todd Marshall, before being helped off the SCG in the arms of two trainers.

Sydney coach John Longmire said he spoke to McCartin after the game but wouldn't expand on any initial diagnosis.

"He is OK, I just spoke to him," Longmire said post-game. "I think just after the game, let's take a deep breath."

After having his AFL career almost ended through multiple concussions, Paddy McCartin is now preparing to realise a dream when Sydney takes on Melbourne in a preliminary final.

"There were a lot of points where I thought I'd never play a game again, let alone finish third and be playing in a finals series," McCartin told AAP.

"So I pinch myself at what's happened this year, and I feel very lucky. Playing a final against Melbourne at the MCG, it'll be pinch-yourself type of stuff."

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan says fellow No.1 pick is Paddy McCartin has been offering his support on shouldering the burden of being the top draft pick.

“It's a challenging role to accept but it’s great to know that someone else on another football team understands my position and understands what we go through, which is massive pressure but we just feed off that and obviously it’s going to make us better footballers," Ugle-Hagan said.

"He just said reach out and ask for help if I have any questions about how I'm going. After the Sydney game he messaged me, which was unbelievable because I found he was a great bloke on the field, gave me a couple of confidence messages when I was out there.”

Paddy McCartin is subbed out during Sydney's clash with Hawthorn after being involved in two heavy collisions.

The Swans confirmed early in the fourth quarter that McCartin had failed a concussion test, but that he was feeling fine. The 26-year-old will now enter the AFL's concussion protocols, meaning he will miss at least the round seven clash against Brisbane next Sunday.

Paddy McCartin talks about his journey back to the AFL, playing for Sydney alongside his brother in the backline.

"I came up to Sydney, did the stuff in the VFL and did a program that the AFL and the Swans worked together on, working back into contact and contact training and working into a practice match that was on the first weekend of April last year. That was my first game so there was a lot of build up into it.

"When I was really going through 2019 I went to Chicago for the week, did the week of intensives there and then did four one-hour sessions a week with Brett Jarros who looked after me. It was a lot of work but ... that’s what I had to do to get back; not just back to footy but back to normal again."

Despite a long history of issues with concussion, McCartin says he plays without any fears of another head knock.

"It’s the same as any injury really; once you get past it and build up enough confidence (you don't worry about it). I did a lot of rehab and as you tick each goal off you put it behind you. Once I played that was it and I got through a few games and that was sweet. I feel pretty sweet now which is good," he said.

Four years since his last AFL game, Paddy McCartin will play for the Swans in their 2022 season opener against GWS.

"He'll play this week. It's a great story and once again it's about the team, but you take a step back for a second and realise some of the challenges Paddy's gone through and to get himself to the point of playing his first AFL game for quite a few years this weekend is pretty special for him," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"He's playing a big role down back. He's still getting used to that and learning the game from that perspective, but it's a great story for him to get back and play. We're not just playing him because it's a good story. We're playing him because we believe he can help us win."

Paddy McCartin is officially back in the AFL, signing with Sydney under pre-season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) rules.

"He has overcome several challenges and ultimately his strong VFL form last season and commitment to training over the pre-season has enabled him to earn another AFL opportunity," Swans footy boss Charlie Gardiner said in a statement.

"At just 25 years of age Paddy still has plenty of footy left to play, and his re-joining the senior list will provide the club with the flexibility of another tall option who can play at either end of the ground."

Paddy McCartin faces a lengthy five-match VFL ban for his off-the-ball strike on his Geelong opponent.

Footage emerged of McCartin lashing out at Aaron Black during the match between Sydney and Geelong's reserves, with the ball nowhere near the pair.

"I'm really disappointed about what happened and I'm gutted, honestly. I feel terrible about what happened and really want to apologise to everyone," McCartin said.

"I just wanted to apologise to him (Black) and his family for what happened. I'm really, really sorry and deeply regretful for what happened and hopefully next time I see him I can shake his hand and we can move past it."

Paddy McCartin will take his most significant step towards an AFL return by playing for Sydney's reserves, with the key forward eyeing the mid-season draft as he seeks to move on from his concussion hell.

"The last couple of years I've had to do a lot of things to get to this point. I'm looking forward to putting all that concussion stuff behind me, just enjoying footy," McCartin said.

"It was probably 18 months ago that I got the all clear from some doctors, that was when I thought I'd give it another crack. COVID pushed it back but I'm here now and so excited. Footy is something I've loved playing since being a little kid.

"Being closer to my brother is going to be really nice too. I'm loving Sydney - the weather, beaches. Everything feels a bit surreal."

Carlton confirms it will not pursue former No.1 pick Paddy McCartin, who is hoping to reignite his career after a season out of the AFL because of concussion issues.

The Blues' decision leaves Sydney as the ex-Saint's most likely home in 2021 if he is given a second AFL chance after his career stalled after 35 games in five luckless seasons.

Sydney CEO Tom Harley says the club has discussed an AFL return with luckless former No.1 pick Paddy McCartin.

"He spent some time up in Sydney probably six weeks ago now and we've certainly had a discussion with Paddy and a bit goes to the list spots," Harley told SEN radio.

"Obviously Tom, his brother, plays up here and we've been monitoring Paddy but nothing further to update on at this point in time."

Paddy McCartin is reported to be symptom-free from his brain injuries caused by up to eight concussions since 2014.

"That's brilliant news for him, just to be able to have a normal life where he's not getting headaches and things like that," Ratten said.

Ratten stressed any move for McCartin to return to football would require the appropriate medical clearances.

"He'll have to make that decision, if he's been given the all-clear, to keep pursuing an AFL career and does he want to keep playing football," Ratten said.

"If he was right and the doctors ticked it off, then we really consider him coming back to the club but there's still a lot of work to be done in that space."

Paddy McCartin is delisted by St Kilda on Monday despite one year to run on his contract, giving him ample time to return from eight concussions sustained across his five-year career.

Critical meetings have given Paddy McCartin's football career hope as he recovers from brain injuries likened to those suffered by car-crash victims.

"I went in there (the Alfred Hospital) and did these tests and spoke to these specialists and they came to the conclusion that I've got a few things going on in my head and it would be 8-10 months before all this fixes up," McCartin said.

"Hopefully all that can clear up and potentially (I) get back to play. Firstly, that I can get back to a quality of life that I had before is the best part. Then, potentially on top of that, I can get back and play footy is awesome."

Paddy McCartin decides to sit out the 2020 season.

McCartin reached the decision with St Kilda in the past fortnight, acting on the advice of high-end medical consultants in Australia and the United States to indefinitely pause his 35-match AFL career.

McCartin will stay actively involved with the Saints' football program, but his main focus will be continuing rehabilitation and recovery programs for the concussion problems which have ruined his time in the AFL.

Paddy McCartin's manager Scott Lucas says his client is determined to play on despite enduring a career beset by concussions.

"Paddy caught up for a meeting with the concussion specialist, which is normal protocol for any guys in the AFL that have suffered a concussion," Lucas said.

"He's going to have some more tests. He wants to play on, I want to be really clear on that, he would like to play on.

"It's an ongoing discussion with those concussion specialists, but there have been signs of improvement, which is great."

Paddy McCartin flies to Chicago to see concussion specialists at the Neurologic Wellness Institute as he aims to resurrect his career.

"With Paddy still experiencing some symptoms, he's taken the opportunity to get away and to visit a Chicago-based clinic that could potentially help minimise those symptoms," Saints football manager Simon Lethlean said.

"Visiting the clinic also is a chance for Paddy to get out of Melbourne and provides a break from a frustrating period, where he has been pretty restricted in what he can do.

"He has worked really closely with our doctors and the other specialists he sees locally, and will keep in close contact with them while he's away."

Following consultation with his doctors and specialists, Paddy McCartin has been placed on St Kilda's long-term injury list and will miss the rest of the 2019 season due to a concussion suffered during the pre-season.

"Given he isn't able to train at a high intensity at present, being able to complete the necessary training to return to playing matches before the end of the season now appears unlikely," Saints manger Simon Lethlean said.

"Our focus first and foremost is on Paddy's health and wellbeing and ensuring that he becomes symptom-free.

"Once that occurs, we will be in a position to put a more accurate timeframe on his return to training this year and his program and plans for the (upcoming) pre-season."

Coach Alan Richardson concedes Paddy McCartin's 2019 season could be over as he continues to battle the effects of concussion.

"I don't know whether Paddy will play again this year," Richardson told Channel Seven's Talking Footy before saying that the club is seriously considering playing McCartin as a defender on his return.

"When it is that he's right, and there's still a fair bit of water to go under the bridge there – he still has symptoms – then we'll seriously look at playing Paddy back. Just to change not having to go back with the flight of the ball."

Paddy McCartin will undergo further tests this week as the Saints attempt to determine the full extent of his latest concussion blow.

The 22-year-old suffered his eighth concussion since 2015 in the Saints' final JLT Series hitout before spending the night in hospital.

Paddy McCartin sustains his eighth concussion since 2014 after copping a hip from teammate Ben Long in a marking contest in the Saints' JLT Community Series clash against the Bulldogs.

McCartin then sat out the second half as his teammates went on to win by 14 points.

St Kilda assistant coach Brett Ratten says Paddy McCartin has slimmed down significantly as he prepares for the 2019 season.

"McCartin's come back in ripping nick. He was in at the club today and he's probably dropped about six or seven kilos," Ratten said.

Paddy McCartin may not return in 2018 as he deals with a Lisfranc injury that is recovering slower than initially expected.

McCartin, 22, is still wearing a moon boot on his left foot after he was hurt in the opening minutes of the Saints' round 16 loss to Port Adelaide.

"We're not going to rush him back and potentially risk injury given that we we're not playing finals," Richardson said.

"We won't take a risk if we think there's any chance for further damage that would compromise his pre-season."

Paddy McCartin is expected to miss about three games as he deals with a low-grade left foot sprain, but he could be sidelined for longer.

McCartin was hurt four minutes into the Saints' loss to Port Adelaide but played out the match.

Paddy McCartin says he didn't know if he would return to football last year after suffering his sixth concussion since 2014.

"From where I am now to this time last year is a pretty stark difference," McCartin said.

"To say I'm enjoying my footy would be an understatement. I'm absolutely loving it because there was a bit of a time last year, the future probably wasn't looking too bright, to be honest."

However, after receiving approval from doctors to keep playing, and donning a helmet because of an ultimatum from coach Alan Richardson, McCartin is confident about the direction in which his career is heading.

"I've put the helmet on now, which took me a little bit to get used to, and I wasn't too keen on it, to be honest, but Richo sort of gave me the ultimatum, wear it or I probably won't play," McCartin said.

"I've chucked it on and I've actually really enjoyed it. It probably took me a couple of training sessions to get used to but now I hardly notice it at all."

A helmeted Paddy McCartin will take the field for St Kilda this week against Richmond at the MCG as he returns from his seventh concussion since the start of 2014.

"The reality is all the research suggests that it doesn't help much, but if you were to ask Angus Brayshaw, it didn't do him any harm," Saints coach Alan Richardson said about McCartin wearing a helmet.

"Nathan Burke, a former champion of our footy club, has spoken to our doctors and said exactly the same thing, that whilst the research doesn't suggest much, that the player feels a bit more confident, and that's pretty important."

Paddy McCartin has been ruled out for at least one game after officially being diagnosed with yet another concussion stemming from a head-clash.

Paddy McCartin has experienced fogginess and nausea after suffering whiplash from a clash of heads with Melbourne's Neville Jetta.

"The first knock was fine and he passed the concussion test. The second knock left him feeling a bit nauseous and a bit of a foggy feeling and given it was late in the game, we took a conservative approach," St Kilda head physiotherapist Andrew Wallis said.

Paddy McCartin escapes concussion but suffers whiplash in a head collision with Melbourne's Neville Jetta that forced him out of the game midway through the final quarter.

"From a concussion perspective, he's all clear. In fact, his cog-state test at half-time was as good as it's been," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

"He got pretty bad whiplash and so that was the reason he didn't come back on the ground. He's pretty sore in the neck."

Paddy McCartin signs a two-year contract extension with St Kilda to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

"I love the club and I'm excited for what the future holds," McCartin said.

"The club has invested a lot in me and I look forward to repaying their faith."

Paddy McCartin suffers a right foot injury and will be on restricted duties for about a month.

"He'll be off legs for a few weeks but given he will be back in full training at the start of January, we wouldn't expect his pre-season to be impacted too much," St Kilda football manager Jamie Cox said.

Tim Membrey says St Kilda teammate and forward Paddy McCartin will eventually terrorize opposition defences.

"I love him and think that he's going to be a superstar," Membrey said of McCartin.

"He's clearly putting in the hard yards now and the rewards are starting to show, just in his aerobic capacity and his body now.

"I just hope that he gets a clear run at it, no injuries and I personally think he could be a bit scary."

Paddy McCartin is relishing the prospect of replacing retired champion Nick Riewoldt in St Kilda's forward line.

"Roo has been unbelievable for me and my development and hopefully I can fill a little bit of the hole he's left," McCartin said.

"You don't really look at it and say, 'I've got to be Rooey', because that's going to be tough. He's one of the best players to have played the game, almost. I'm just going to control what I can control."

Draft prospect Tom McCartin says he is ready for the scrutiny that comes with being an AFL player after learning from older brother Paddy McCartin's experiences at St Kilda.

At 192cm, McCartin is also a tantalising goal-kicking prospect, but has battled his own injury demons while he grows into a key position role.

"After seeing the scrutiny on Paddy, with the way he goes about it, I've been able to take a few leaves out of his book in a way," Tom said.

"I've seen him go through all his injuries and it's pretty tough to watch.

"If it comes about for me, I'll try not to read into it or worry about it too much, which is something he does really well.

"I've really tried to take it on board, so I feel I'd be ready for it."

St Kilda is looking to extend Paddy McCartin's contract in advance to avoid any extra attention on the No.1 pick next year.

"[There's] no doubt that you don't necessarily want someone who's been under such a spotlight to go through that speculation for the year and so forth," St Kilda list and recruiting manager Tony Elshaug said.

"We're starting to have some good discussions around that with Paddy and his management and put that to bed and get down to football and being the best he can."

Paddy McCartin might not play again in 2017 as he deals with a lingering concussion he is yet to completely overcome.

"It'd be fair to say that he hasn't quite ticked a couple of boxes from a medical perspective," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said.

"It's gone a little bit slower, the last bit. We won't take any risk at all there. We wouldn't with any player that has an issue with concussion."

Paddy McCartin will be out of action indefinitely as he takes time to completely recover from his sixth concussion since 2014.

"There's a few things, just baseline testing and things like that, where I'm not quite 100 per cent," McCartin said.

"With the head stuff, it's pretty important that that's all 100 per cent spot on."

McCartin isn't experiencing any concussion symptoms and will continue to train, but will be reassessed in a few weeks.

"Feeling really good, feel fine. I'm doing all the training. Probably more of a training load than what I would in-season normally, when I'm playing," he said.

Paddy McCartin will be rested after his latest bout of concussion but the Saints insist his long-term future is not at risk.

"He's very likely to play the week after," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said.

"Our medical staff, our experts, are telling us he's going to be fine. There's a fair bit of testing done in that space to make sure that they're giving players and coaches really good advice, and our advice is that Paddy will be fine."

Paddy McCartin's immediate playing future is again in doubt after the big St Kilda forward suffered another concussion in the VFL.

McCartin had his head over the footy in a contest during the first quarter of Sandringham's clash with Coburg when he was collected by an opponent.

He lay on the ground for 10-15 seconds and was attended by trainers before walking off. He failed to appear again in the second half.

"He was ruled out with concussion, which isn't good with his history. He'll obviously get assessed during the week but hopefully for Paddy it's nothing, because he was playing very good AFL footy a couple of weeks ago," Sandringham assistant coach Brendan Allen said after the game.

As Paddy McCartin prepares to play a fifth straight week in the VFL, Saints coach Alan Richardson says he is confident the former No. 1 selection will be at the club for the long-term.

"It's frustrating for anyone, and we'd be disappointed if our guys that go back to VFL level aren't frustrated," Richardson said.

"All we can control is the way we deal with Paddy and communicate with Paddy and make sure that he's got real clarity around how important he is to us, and I've said that many times.

"We think he's going to be an outstanding player for our footy club for a very long time."

St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary has defended out-of-favour key forward Paddy McCartin's work ethic as the scrutiny continues on the prized pick of the 2014 draft class.

McCartin, who turns 21 this month, lost his spot in the Saints' senior side after a goalless, five-disposal day against the Brisbane Lions in round three.

"He's probably not a natural athlete, in terms of some other key forwards in the competition – he's a big brute of a lad – so that's the way he plays his footy," Geary said.

"It's hard to compare him against other key forwards, like 'Rooey' (Nick Riewoldt). You see 'Rooey' run around and explode off his opponent, (but) Paddy's not that type of player.

"He's more of a stay-at-home forward who's going to eventually be able to out-muscle defenders … I'm confident with time he'll be really good for us."

St Kilda drops Paddy McCartin for its round 4 clash with Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.

McCartin had been under pressure following two quiet games to start the year, and has been sent back to the VFL to find some form.

Paddy McCartin's season is over after the young forward broke his collarbone following a collision with Richmond's Nick Vlastuin.

The unfortunate injury came in just his second game back from three concussions during the year.

However, Saints coach Alan Richardson said there was no need for McCartin to alter his approach.

"He will keep playing that way," Richardson said.

"He will work on his technique but we want him to be strong and physical. We certainly recruited that player and he will be getting better technically."

Paddy McCartin had no issues in his return from concussion and won't be wrapped in cotton wool for the rest of the season, with the young gun a chance to make his long-awaited AFL comeback this Sunday against Carlton.

McCartin played for VFL affiliate Sandringham last weekend and worked his way into the game, kicking 1.2 and taking six marks, to push his case for a senior recall.

"There were certainly no issues with respect to his concussion," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

"He was running strongly and he pulled up really well - it will just be a form issue really now whether we think he's right to come back into the team.

"We know that Paddy, when he's up and going, certainly makes us a better team, so we're keen to get him in."

Paddy McCartin is available for selection this week after recovering fully from his third concussion of the season.

McCartin, 20, was concussed in the first quarter of the round 15 clash against Gold Coast. He passed the concussion test at the time but sat out the rest of the game as the club opted to take a conservative approach with the first player drafted in 2014.

"Paddy's been symptom-free for the best part of a month," St Kilda football manager Jamie Cox said.

"He's been training strongly during that time and is now back in full contest training.

"His most recent MRI scans were all clear last week."

Saints coach Alan Richardson says Paddy McCartin will play senior football again by the end of the season despite a series of head knocks.

"He'll play footy again this year, there's no doubt about that," Richardson said.

"We're really pleased with the way he's going. I'd hope he would only miss another one, another two max. Once again, that will be up to the medical staff."

St Kilda is still unsure when Paddy McCartin will return to action after suffering his third concussion of the season.

"All the initial tests that you would do, the internal tests, the cog state (cognitive state test) etc., have been positive," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said.

"Some of the external tests, with neurologists etc., are ongoing, but certainly heading in a positive direction."

Paddy McCartin is concussed for the third time this season during the Saints' loss against Gold Coast.

McCartin was taken off during the first quarter at Metricon Stadium and was ruled out early in the second term after failing his test.

St Kilda has confirmed it will be without concussed forward Paddy McCartin for at least a week.

Paddy McCartin is taken to hospital after a nasty collision in which he clashed heads with teammate Jack Newnes, only to hit his head against Crows defender Luke Brown before hitting the deck.

The third-quarter incident was McCartin's second concussion for the year, with the 20-year-old experiencing a similar injury against Collingwood in round three.

Paddy McCartin has struggled to break into the Saints' side after his omission a fortnight ago.

"It's not necessarily a form thing for Paddy, it's probably more a form thing for the guy that replaced Paddy," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said.

"He just hasn't been able to get back into a team that we were happy with, on the whole."

Paddy McCartin will most likely miss the rest of the NAB Challenge after suffering a low-grade hamstring strain.

The Saints are still expecting the key forward to be available for round one.

Paddy McCartin agrees to a new two-year deal with the Saints that will keep him at the club until the end of 2018.

Paddy McCartin has been ruled out for one week after lingering symptoms from a head knock he suffered in the VFL after being concussed during the first half Sandringham's clash against Werribee.

"He got a laceration to the top of his head and was knocked out," St Kilda physio Andrew Wallis said.

"We've actually ruled him out this week. He's still showing a few symptoms, so expect him back next week."

Paddy McCartin struggles in his AFL debut after being held scoreless in the Saints' big loss to Collingwood at the MCG.

The No.1 pick from the 2014 NAB AFL Draft was told one hour before Friday night's match that he would be making his debut after captain Nick Riewoldt was withdrawn with a calf issue.

His late call-up resulted in a scrambled effort for his parents to get to the MCG, where he escaped both the green and red substitute's vests, and played a full game.

The young forward, who turns 19 on Sunday, had a quiet first half but worked into the match thereafter to finish with nine disposals and three marks.

"He got a little bit of it in the last quarter, but he struggled," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said.

"It's an awkward way to prepare for a game when you get told an hour before we play that you're going to play your first game of footy.

"In an ideal world he wouldn't have played. He's probably not quite ready."

Patrick McCartin makes his AFL debut for St Kilda at the MCG with 9 disposals (7 kicks and 2 handballs), 3 marks and a tackle in a 74-point loss to Collingwood.

Paddy McCartin is admitted to to receive treatment for a skin infection on his right thigh.

McCartin underwent a minor procedure while in hospital and the Saints expect him to resume training later this week.

Paddy McCartin says Nick Riewoldt will be a great mentor to him at St Kilda.

"He's been fantastic to try to emulate and if I can be half the player he is I'll be happy," McCartin said.

"I've had a few chats with Nick and I'll probably sit down with him a bit closer to the season once he gets out on the track a bit more because we'll probably be doing a pretty similar program."

McCartin has yet to set any specific goals for the 2015 season, preferring to focus on throwing himself into his first pre-season.

"I've been injury-free so far and have been able to have a pretty good run at it, so I'll just keep doing what I need to do and learn as much as I can and see where that takes me," he says.

"I'm not setting any goals for round one or whatever. I'll just keep training, have a crack and see how I'll go."

Patrick McCartin is the 2014 No.1 draft pick after St Kilda selected the Geelong Falcons key forward ahead of Eastern Ranges midfielder Christian Petracca.

Petracca was the favourite to be the No.1 pick for much of this year, but the Saints ultimately opted to go with the 2014 draft pool's best tall forward.

Patrick McCartin says he isn't concerned about being the No.1 draft pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

"It's just a number. I'm the same as anyone else when I get into a club," McCartin said.

"I can't wait to get stuck into it and have a crack."

Patrick McCartin will begin his AFL career with the added challenge of being a Type 1 diabetic, a condition that requires him to regularly check his blood-sugar levels, including during games, and inject himself with insulin up to six times a day.

"If I look after myself and use everything I've got to the best of my ability … in an AFL environment I feel that I'd do OK with it because it's really well balanced (with) good structures," McCartin said.

Top draft prospect Paddy McCartin says he has had no recent contact from St Kilda and is still in the dark with just which club he might end up at.

"None. I've had probably the same as you," McCartin said.

"I'm in the dark and I guess we'll find out on Thursday night. I guess that adds to it as well, with the hype and speculation, no-one really knows what's going on."

Draft prospect Paddy McCartin says he is trying not to let talk of him being the No.1 pick in the 2014 national draft affect him.

"If someone had told me this time last year, or even before that, that some people would think I'd be the No.1 pick I'd have laughed at them," he said.

"It'll be up to someone else. I've just got to make sure I'm having a crack and making the most of the year and then the decision will be left to someone else. It won't be in my hands.

"Whatever happens, happens. I just want to enjoy the year, but that can be tough at times."