Mark Robinson: Why Paddy McCartin king hit was dumb and dangerous

As he prepares to face the music for his king hit, clubs considering Paddy McCartin will be wondering about his mindset, writes Mark Robinson.

Paddy McCartin in his time at the Saints. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Dumb and dangerous. That was the immediate reaction to Paddy McCartin’s king hit on opponent Aaron Black in a VFL match on Saturday.

A king hit isn’t always executed from behind.

McCartin swung his fist once, seemingly to knock away Black’s hand, and then swung a second punch into the jaw of Black, who crumpled to the ground.

The first punch was waist-high. The second punch was head high.

There’s no excuse for that. He wasn’t trying to forcibly break away from Black, or push off him. He flushed him in the face, an act Black could not possibly have expected.

It was king hit from the front because this was, after all, a footy match and not a boxing match.

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Paddy McCartin has to cop it for his hit on Aaron Black, says Mark Robinson. Picture: Michael Klein

SEE THE INCIDENT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The irony that this fierce punch has been thrown by a long-time concussion sufferer is almost beyond words.

McCartin will cop it because he has to cop it.

And only he knows why he responded with a savage fist instead of using the normal defensive action — which is trying to put a hand on your opponent. Touch and feel, they call it. This was touch and bang.

People defending McCartin will say it was out of character, and it was, and these “things can happen in footy’’, and they do (rarely), but look it at from Black’s view.

He was playing the game, he was being a close-checking defender and, bam, he was lucky he didn’t have his jaw busted or suffer concussion.

Footy’s a split-second sport. You move on instinct and react on impulse.

But McCartin, perhaps more than any other player, would be, or should be, conscious of the impact of headhigh hits.

McCartin, who has battled ongoing concussions, last played in the AFL for St Kilda in Round 16, 2018.

In 2017, the former No. 1 draft pick played just five games.

In 2020, he did not play at all in a bid to recover from concussion issues.

He has told his story about how concussion has affected his normal daily life and the public sympathy for his plight has been absolute.

The incident involving McCartin in the VFL. Picture: Fox Sports

The incident at the weekend leaves you with sympathy for Black.

How it affects McCartin’s attempt to get back on to an AFL list is now a discussion.

He’s playing with Sydney’s VFL team with hopes of securing a spot with his brother on the Swans’ list.

The issue was about whether McCartin could play good enough footy and also withstand body and head hits.

Now, there’s a query on his mindset.

How can there not be?

He looks to be a frustrated 25-year-old who has lost his AFL dream and who now has a violent edge. It’s sad.

The last punch similar to McCartin’s was delivered by Barry Hall to Brent Staker. That incident also started with some minor defensive niggling before Hall threw a fist.

Hall received seven weeks and sometime later conceded in an interview the punch could’ve “killed’’ Staker.

McCartin will surely regret his action.

A concussion campaigner with the whole footy world in his corner, he let himself down. And, similar to Hall, is lucky greater damage wasn’t inflicted.

Originally published as Mark Robinson: Why Paddy McCartin king hit was dumb and dangerous