Revealed: How Brad McCarthy overcame adversity – and defied the odds – to help Glenelg break a 33-year premiership drought
Brad McCarthy was born with only four digits on his right hand. But that didn’t stop the Glenelg utility from helping the Tigers snap a lengthy SANFL flag drought last year.
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Brad McCarthy says he doesn’t know anything different.
“I was born this way, so I’ve just had to adapt,’’ the Glenelg premiership utility said.
“I guess my story is different than most but I just got on with things and it became normal to me.’’
One of the untold stories of the Tigers breaking a 33-year SANFL flag drought last season was the inspirational tale of 21-year-old McCarthy.
The strong-bodied, 179cm defender/midfielder has overcome more obstacles than most to achieve his football dreams.
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He was born with just four fingers on his right hand.
And one of them was shorter than it was supposed to be.
McCarthy has no middle finger on his right hand and his index finger is stunted.
“That finger never grew out very well and with the middle finger missing there was a bit of a gap there, so I had surgery when I was about one to close the space a bit,’’ he said.
“Being so young I don’t remember too much about it and have just gone about things the best I could.
“Not too many people know my story, I’ve kept it reasonably quiet and just got on with business.’’
While former Glenelg midfielder Brett Backwell famously chose to have his damaged left ring finger amputated in 2005 – the brave decision saw him interviewed on American talk show The Late Show with David Letterman – prior to winning the Magarey Medal in 2006, McCarthy didn’t have a choice.
He believes he was born a natural right-hander but was forced to do things on his left side because of the difficulties he first faced at school.
“I remember when I was little trying to write with my right hand but having a lot of trouble and then changing to become left-handed,’’ McCarthy explained.
“In the classroom I struggled using the computer and mouse and the teachers had to help me out, so I taught myself to do more things with my left hand.’
Born in Naracoorte in the heart of Glenelg’s southeast recruiting zone before moving 40km west to Lucindale where he grew up on his parents farm, McCarthy did not consider his hand to be a handicap and wanted to play football.
He joined an Auskick centre at age five and was soon playing for Lucindale alongside former Tiger and current Crow Darcy Fogarty.
McCarthy rose through the club’s junior program wearing a glove to protect his reconstructed hand as the bones continued to heal.
He taught himself to became a left-footer to assist with his ball drop.
“That was probably the toughest part, learning to kick on my opposite side,’’ McCarthy said.
At 14, he discarded the glove and became a boarder at Adelaide’s Rostrevor College – where he would later become head prefect – and joined Glenelg’s under-15s.
McCarthy’s football blossomed and he made the State under-16 and under-18 teams before being selected for his league debut against South Adelaide at Noarlunga in round one, 2018, under new coach Mark Stone.
He played 10 games in his rookie year before becoming a regular fixture in the Tigers line-up last season, playing all 18 home-and-away matches and three finals, averaging 13 disposals and four tackles while playing a series of key shutdown roles.
Stone described McCarthy as “inspirational’’ for his football and work ethic rather than the physical obstacle he had overcome.
He said he was such a “no-fuss’’ person that few people outside of the club knew of his unique journey.
“Brad goes about everything he does, but particularly his footy, with such low-fuss that you wouldn’t even know he had an issue, unless you shake hands with him,’’ Stone said.
“He never draws attention to it, he never uses it as an excuse because he’s been dealing with it for his whole life and it’s just part of him.
“Where I find inspiration from him is his competitiveness and effort. He’s a quiet kid by nature but he has a fierce competitive streak.
“He’s a really tough kid who is an incredible runner, our best in time trials, and if you give him a job you know he’s going to do it.’’
McCarthy, who is studying Secondary physical education teaching, said he felt lucky to have played in a Glenelg premiership team in just his second season of league football.
He hasn’t ruled out playing AFL.
“The main thing for me is to enjoy my footy and if I’m doing that and doing my job on the field then you never know, AFL might be on the cards,’’ McCarthy said.