Footy runs in family for John McCarthy
FOOTBALL is a family business for John McCarthy. He is the first - by moving his shingle to Port Adelaide - to take it out of Victoria.
FOOTBALL is a family business for John McCarthy.
He is the first - by moving his shingle to Port Adelaide - to take it out of Victoria.
His father Shane, a lawyer, played at Geelong. "He likes to say he was 97 games short of 100," says McCarthy of his father's three-game stint at the Cattery in 1970-71.
His brother Matthew, also a lawyer, played at Geelong as a ruckman-forward in 17 injury-interrupted games between 2003-4. "I grew up idolosing my brother," says McCarthy. "He was 6-foot 6 ... I was shattered not to be."
McCarthy, the midfielder, stands at 189cm. Whatever he was denied in height, he took up extra in a bubbly personality that could prove as critical to the mood at Alberton as his midfield work.
Uncles Bernie (148 games) and Gavan (two) were at North Melbourne in the '60s.
His grandfather Alan Olle played 51 games at St Kilda after World War II. His maternal grandmother's brother, John Coffey, played 89 games with the Saints.
The family tree branches with other relatives across the traditional VFL clubs like a spiderweb. But, as a reflection of a sport that now describes itself as "Australia's Game", McCarthy has come to appreciate being more than a one-club player ... or a one-city resident.
That was not always the case. "At 18," recalls McCarthy of his waiting game before the 2007 draft, "I was worried I could be in Perth. I wanted to stay in Melbourne. It was easier - I'd see my parents when I wanted."
The price was being called at No. 31 to Collingwood.
"I hated Collingwood," says McCarthy recalling his emotions as a Geelong supporter. "Everyone in my family hated Collingwood. As soon as I was drafted by Collingwood that changed very quickly.
"Dad bought a Collingwood membership. He is the only person in the world who has been a member at Geelong then Collingwood and now Port Adelaide."
It could have been Richmond. After deciding to get away from the crowded midfield squadron at Collingwood, McCarthy endured the uneasy - and fruitless - waiting game in trade week in October before joining the Tigers in training.
The day before the pre-season draft, Port - with the pick before Richmond - declared it wanted McCarthy.
"At 22," says McCarthy, "I was happy to move out of Victoria. I was more grown up. I was more mature. And I wanted to go somewhere to get a game."
McCarthy played 18 games - including three finals - with the Magpies who drafted him as a midfielder-defender. "Even though I'd never played in defence in my life," said McCarthy.
While McCarthy's escape theme from Collingwood was "go anywhere for a game", Port carried a stigma.
"Port Adelaide does not get a good rap in Victoria," said McCarthy. "But when I came here (for the pre-draft medical) I could not believe the facility is as good as (Collingwood's) Westpac Centre.
"I don't see any difference between Collingwood and Port Adelaide except one (the Magpies) is the golden club and the other (the Power) is the battler. And don't you want to be seen as the underdog?"
As one appreciates family lines in football, McCarthy fully embraces the Power's determination to uphold the club's SANFL traditions that took Port to the AFL.
"The past players here make you appreciate what it means to belong to this club far more than you get at Collingwood," said McCarthy. "When I was handed my jumper (by Magpie legend Greg Phillips), Warren Tredrea told us about the Port Adelaide history and how past players made sacrifices to win flags."