Cam McCarthy wants to continue his AFL career at Collingwood
Cam McCarthy says he is open to continuing his AFL career outside of WA and has set his sights on one of the biggest clubs in Australian sport as his destination of choice. Would he be a good fit?
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Axed Fremantle forward Cam McCarthy says he is open to continuing his AFL career outside of WA, with Collingwood his club of choice.
The 25-year-old parted ways with the Dockers earlier this month after 49 games in four seasons, leaving before his contract expired after being told he was not going to be offered a deal for 2021.
McCarthy said he still loved the game and would head interstate to add to his 70 AFL games, despite returning to WA from GWS at the end of 2015 because of homesickness.
“I will play at South Fremantle next year … hopefully I cruise back in soon,” McCarthy told The Jamo & Dylan Show.
“My passion is playing AFL footy and getting the best out of myself. I still think I have a fair bit to give. I am not satisfied stopping now.
“I still love it and hopefully, one day make it back into the AFL.
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“Everyone’s like ‘you’re playing footy, like it’s the best job ever’ and it’s not really. You’ve got pre-season, which is like so hard and then you’ve got footy and if you’re not performing, it’s like if you’re not performing work, you could get cut.”
When asked which club he would go to if he had a choice, McCarthy nominated the Magpies
“I’ve always said that from day one, I was like Collingwood,” he said.
“Obviously I wish I would have played for Freo for the rest of my career.”
McCarthy said the decision to leave the Dockers was the best thing for him after not enjoying the hub experience earlier in the season.
“When I asked Freo … if I am not getting another contract I don’t see any point (going back to Queensland) and if I’m not going to play, why would I go back over to another hub and sit there for five weeks?,” he said.
“Imagine being stuck in a hotel for a couple of weeks. I was like ‘I am not going through that again’.
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“I would lose my mind.”
McCarthy had no ill feelings towards the Dockers, saying they were going in the right direction and had big wraps for their young midfield.
“JL (Justin Longmuir) is doing a good job down there,” he said.
“They’re going to be a serious side in the next couple of years, trust me.
“And Caleb Serong, weapon. Adam Cerra, gun. (Andrew) Brayshaw, gun. And then you’ve got blokes like Alex Pearce, Joel Hamling missing. Imagine having them in the squad.”
Originally published as Cam McCarthy wants to continue his AFL career at Collingwood