Time On: Paddy McCartin credits support of partner Lucy Brownless for amazing footy return

Paddy McCartin and Lucy Brownless are back together and he’s credited her support for the footy comeback story of the year.

Derby Day Celebs with Fiona Byrne in the Birdcage. Lucy Brownless and Paddy McCartin. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Time On is your Monday wrap-up of all the footy gossip from the weekend.

Paddy McCartin paid tribute to his “support system” during an emotional post-match interview on Saturday night.

The former Saints no. 1 draft pick has made a heartwarming footy comeback following a series of head knocks that he thought would prevent him from playing again.

While speaking to Fox Footy’s Best on Ground panel he mentioned his family, friends and partner who happens to be Lucy Brownless, the love he has rekindled after the pair quietly separated at the start of last year.

Lucy Brownless has moved to Sydney to be with beau Paddy McCartin. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Tom and Paddy McCartin celebrate the Swans win on Saturday. Picture: Quinn Rooney

Brownless, the daughter of Geelong great Billy Brownless, is now living in Sydney with McCartin and has often talked about how inspiring his journey has been.

“I’m a bit speechless to be honest,’’ McCartin said of his footy return.

“I had a fair road back to come back and play. The aim was to get back and play in games like this. To win and beat Melbourne and be doing it with my brother on the ‘G — it’s pretty crazy, bro.”

Asked if he had doubts at stages that he’d ever play footy again, McCartin said: “Definitely. I thought I was done.

“But I’m very lucky, mate. I’ve got a good support system around me and I’ve got a great family, a great partner, great friends and I’m at a great footy club. You add all those things together and it’s a pretty nice combo and it makes my life a lot easier.”

Footy stories don’t get much better than McCartin’s.

De Konings don’t back down

Don’t mess with Jackie De Koning, the matriarch of the impressive De Koning family.

Sam, fast firming for the Rising Star award after another standout performance for the Cats, copped a little sledge after an article was posted about his form early in the season.

Jackie had the perfect response for the doubting troll who labelled her son a match stick.

“204cms and 102 kgs is not a match stick! Watch out!”

The exchange posted on Seven’s social media via Twitter, was given the thumbs up by many including Cats spearhead Jeremy Cameron.

The 10 De Koning siblings are a force to be reckoned with, Tom is also on fire with Carlton. Jackie and husband, former Footscray player Terry De Koning, made a cameo with Brian Taylor in the Geelong rooms during Roaming Brian’s return Friday night.

NBA star’s Melbourne visit

NBA superstar Damian Lillard was a happy man after predicting the Devin Haney triumph at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The Portland Trailblazers basketballer is an avid boxing fan and said “skills pay the bills” in summing up the American’s win over local hope George Kambosos Jr.

Lillard, who has almost 10 million Instagram followers, had a big weekend — attending the footy on Friday night, meeting Bulldogs cult figure Bailey Smith in the rooms, and then making an appearance at Foot Locker QV on Saturday.

Phone A Friend

A big sticking point in the next deal for radio rights may well be player access.

Time On hears there’s much frustration among broadcast partners about the difficulty in getting players and coaches on pre-game and weekend shows.

On Triple M’s Saturday rub the crew took matters into their own hands, with Billy Brownless calling Cats star Tom Hawkins directly to chat about Friday night’s win.

The AFL is going over the final details of a new radio broadcast rights agreement with a restructuring of Craig Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Network role looming as one of the main changes.