Paddy McCartin and Dylan Roberton spend night in hospital after concussion and heart scare respectively

St Kilda pair Paddy McCartin and Dylan Roberton spent the night in hospital and will undergo more tests after their immediate playing future were thrown into doubt with concussion and a heart scare respectively.

Paddy McCartin is helped from the field. Picture: Getty Images

St Kilda pair Paddy McCartin and Dylan Roberton spent the night in hospital after their playing futures were thrown into doubt on Sunday.

Saints key forward McCartin suffered an eighth concussion since the start of 2014 in Sunday’s final pre-season match against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat while defender Dylan Roberton will be forced to undergo more tests this week after having another frightening heart scare.

McCartin did not return to the field after receiving a head knock in the second quarter as he backed into a pack and collided with teammate Ben Long.

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The 22-year-old was feeling unwell after the match and subsequently sent to St John of God hospital in Ballarat.

“As with every concussion, it’s now just about his symptoms as to how quickly he’ll be back on the track,” Saints football boss Simon Lethlean said on Monday.

“Given his history of head knocks, it goes without saying that we’ll take a cautious approach.”

Roberton was rushed into the hands of Saints medical staff after he was “a bit wonky” on his feet in the seconds before the final siren in what was just his second match back after almost 11 months on the sidelines.

Paddy McCartin after his knock to the head. Picture: Michael Klein

He was assessed by club doctors and paramedics before being sent to hospital.

Roberton was discharged on Monday.

“We’ll know more in the next few days as to what caused him to feel unwell and what the prognosis is from here,” Lethlean said.

McCartin has played just 35 of a possible 86 games since debuting in Round 3, 2015 due to his string of concussions as well as form issues.

But coach Alan Richardson denied the situation was “incredibly dire”.

“Everybody’s different in terms of how they recover, particularly when there’s been significant gaps between knocks,” Richardson said.

“So our doctors are basically saying the fact he’s had a bit of history isn’t too much of an issue in terms of going forward.”

Dylan Roberton spent the night in hospital. Picture: Getty

Roberton was rushed into the hands of Saints medical staff after he was “a bit wonky” on his feet in the seconds before the final siren in what was just his second match back after almost 11 months on the sidelines.

The 27-year-old is playing with an electronic device in his chest that monitors and corrects heart beat abnormalities after collapsing in Round 4 last year due to a heart irregularity.

“He just didn’t feel right. They’re his words,” Richardson said.

“The doctor came out and spoke to the group and Robbo’s fine. The doctors almost said themselves, ‘We’re probably overplaying this and being a little bit over the top in terms of being cautious’. And because of the way he felt and because of his history there will be more tests than you would normally have, I imagine, with Robbo.”

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McCartin’s eight concussions

1. 2014, May-July Under-18 AFL Championships

2. 2015, May 30 VFL Sandringham v Werribee

3. 2016, April 9 AFL R3 v Collingwood

4. 2016, June 5 AFL R11 v Adelaide

5. 2016, July 2 AFL R15 v Gold Coast

6. 2017, June 23 VFL Sandringham v Coburg

7. 2018, May 6 R7 v Melbourne

8. 2019, March 10 JLT Series v Bulldogs

Originally published as Paddy McCartin and Dylan Roberton spend night in hospital after concussion and heart scare respectively