AFL injury news round 4: All the latest updates on the injury front

The AFL has been urged to protect Paddy McCartin’s health after suffering a distressing concussion against the Power. But his family friend Garry Lyon has a different view.

Nick Larkey grimaces in pain. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL has been urged to protect Paddy McCartin from his instincts to continue playing AFL football as the Swans face an “impossible” situation over his return from a 10th AFL concussion.

McCartin is now in the concussion protocol again and will miss Friday’s Gather Round clash against Richmond after a horror night that also saw brother Tom concussed in the loss to Port Adelaide.

Former No. 1 overall pick McCartin is contracted through to 2024 and has never wanted to retire from football despite the uncertainty over the long-term effects on his brain.

The latest concussion was even more worrying given he seemed punch-drunk and needed assistance to leave the field despite relatively minor contact when his head hit the ground.

Sydney will work through the concussion protocol which means players must spend at least one day in each of the 11 return-to-play steps.

While Sydney will be in charge of that process they will clearly liaise with the AFL’s medical bosses including chief medical officer Peter Harcourt.

The league’s own concussion team allowed McCartin to return to AFL football after he was able to show he could withstand the rigours of pre-season training after eight concussions at St Kilda.

McCartin lays a tackle before succumbing to a concussion. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The league’s medical body have intervened in the past including with West Coast player Daniel Venables.

In April 2021 an AFL medical body unanimously recommended that he avoid all contact sports including AFL.

McCartin’s family friend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy on Sunday night the Sydney star had “big decisions” to make but would do so with a support staff that included family and the AFL’s best medical experts.

“I am not the spokesman for Paddy but I have spoken to him and the family today and he feels good today,” he said.

“He has a lot of decisions to make but let’s not race to try to be the first to try to retire Paddy. Speaking of interventions and trying to protect him from himself paints a picture that he is a rogue out there doing things on his own. He has a fantastic supportive family, he has a footy club right behind him. They will put his health at the forefront always, and let’s cut him some slack.

“He will have a day off today. (There are) big decisions to be made for him and his family and they will always make the right ones.”

Former Adelaide and Geelong player Josh Jenkins said the AFL and McCartin faced an “impossible” situation that might eventually see the player removed from AFL action.

“It is an impossible situation for them. They are not going to be able to tell him if you take a month off you will be OK. Or if you take 12 days off you will be OK. And that’s why I wonder if the AFL steps in and tries to have its say. Not only because of what is going on in the periphery but what is best for the young man, what is best for the game, what it looks like for the image of the game,” he told SEN Radio.

“Paddy McCartin’s desire to play the game is also important. He has the right to recover and want to get back out onto the ground but when you have had 10 concussions I can’t help but think sometimes you need to protect someone from themselves.

“I am very good friends with Paul Seedsman, I know how hard it has been on him not being allowed to play the game. I am really torn on it but my overwhelming feeling is you have probably got to protect some of these players from themselves.”

McCartin battled repeated concussions during his time at the Saints. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

AFL concussion campaigner Peter Jess told the Herald Sun on Sunday he did not believe McCartin should still be playing AFL football.

“Once again the AFL and the AFLPA have failed to protect an at risk player from long term neurological damage. We have enough clinical examples of players who had similar numbers of clinical concussions as Paddy McCartin to demonstrate that it is reckless to allow a player to be put at risk of further neurological damage by allowing the player to continue in a collision based sport,” he said.

“The latest research from Oxford University published in January 2023 stated any player who had 3 or more clinical concussions should be counselled about continuing in a collision based sport as the damage is accentuated after that point.”

Former Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel, who suffered several serious concussions through his career, told 3AW McCartin might have to sign a legal waiver conceding the long-term risks to continue playing AFL.

There has to be a conversation where you get the right people in the room and make sure: “Do you understand the risk going forward?”

“It is completely up to you. You have the support, it’s your decision. It would have to get to that point.”

SWANS COACH REFUSES TO WEIGH INTO MCCARTIN FUTURE AFTER SETBACK

— Simeon Thomas-Wilson

There are fears for the immediate playing future of Sydney’s Paddy McCartin after he suffered the 10th concussion of his career on Saturday night.

Alarmingly, it was an innocuous-looking incident in the first term of the match against Port Adelaide at the SCG which led to the 26-year-old being helped from the field by trainers.

McCartin suffered the head knock just minutes into the clash when he and Power forward Todd Marshall fought for the ball on the ground.

The Swans defender face-planted into the turf and he immediately looked concerned.

McCartin stumbled as he walked to the interchange bench in what were distressing scenes.

Paddy McCartin stumbled as he walked to the bench after his latest head knock.

Robbie Fox has entered the game as the activated sub.

Hoping Paddy McCartin is ok 🙏#AFLSwansPowerpic.twitter.com/A6xxvbqNg9

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 8, 2023

Paddy McCartin has been subbed off- we will update when we know more details on Paddy’s injury ❤️#AFLSwansPower

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) April 8, 2023

Fingers, toes, everything crossed right now for Paddy McCartin.
That looked horrible. #AFLSwansPower

— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) April 8, 2023

He was subbed out of the game soon after in what was his 63rd career match.

Sydney coach John Longmire said it is too early to discuss what McCartin’s latest concussion means for his career, revealing the Swans “just removed him” from the game rather than any test or Head Injury Assessment.

Before Saturday night McCartin had suffered nine concussions in his career, eight of them at St Kilda which led to him having to spend time away from the game before he could prove he was medically able to play again when he moved to Sydney.

Tom McCartin was also ruled out with concussion.

His long-term well being is set to be discussed following the latest head knock but Longmire said it was too early to talk about McCartin’s future.

“He’s OK, I just spoke to him, he is OK,” he said.

“I think with all due respect it is just after the game so let’s just take a breath.”

Longmire said the Swans had not done any concussion test or HIA’s on McCartin having decided to not take any risks.

“We just removed him, we made a decision,” he said.

“We didn’t do a test or an assessment, we just removed him from the game.”

The 2014 No. 1 draft pick retired from playing after 35 games at St Kilda at the end of 2018 because of concussion issues.

Swans coach John Longmire says it is too early to discuss what McCartin’s latest concussion means for his career.

His career was reignited last year at the Swans in what was arguably the feel-good story of the season.

McCartin started his AFL career as a key forward but has been reinvented at Sydney as an intercept marking defender.

He played a key role in helping the Swans reach last year’s grand final.

In another twist, McCartin’s younger brother, Tom, also suffered concussion against the Power and was removed from the match at halftime.

Tom McCartin was involved in a collision, also with Marshall, and failed a head impact assessment.

Tom McCartin missed games because of concussion in 2019 and 2020.

Paddy McCartin of the Swans receives attention from a trainer after knocking his head.

BLUES BEAMING AND RIVALS WON’T LIKE HEARING THIS

Chris Cavanagh

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps says he is “buzzing” about the imminent return of Sam Walsh as the Blues look to build on a promising start to the season.

Walsh has missed the first four games of the season with a back injury but has been given the all-clear to return to the field against Adelaide in the opening game of Gather Round on Thursday night.

Walsh finished third in Carlton’s best-and-fairest count last year after averaging 32.1 disposals against 20 games.

“He’s a freak of nature, the way that he can transition,” Cripps said of his teammate.

“We’ve got some bulls on the inside and he’s that guy that can really link the ground for us and get back and outnumber but also if we can get it out to him he can really penetrate the opposition’s defence.

“He’s had an amazing block of work, he looks strong. I think he’s put on a few kilos. He’s just a pro and he’s chomping at the bit to get back.”

Fellow midfielder Matt Kennedy (calf) and wingman Blake Acres (suspension) are also set to return against the Crows.

“For once we’re having a good run with injury and we’ve just got to keep building on consistency with our form and trying to keep elevating our game,” Cripps said on 3AW radio.

Carlton has scored three wins and a draw from its opening four matches this season.

Sam Walsh will be a massive inclusion after missing the first four games of the season.

Hobbled Coleman contender’s painful injury blow

Jay Clark

North Melbourne star forward Nick Larkey faces a light week on the track to help recover from a sore hip in time to play Brisbane Lions next weekend.

The man who led the competition for goals (12) after three rounds copped a heavy knee from Blue Jacob Weitering in a first-term marking contest and was severely hampered throughout Friday’s match.

But the Kangaroos were thrilled with his courageous efforts to play on as the spearhead produced one of the bravest performances of the season to help provide a marking contest in the Good Friday ‘Super Clash’.

Larkey appeared to be in severe discomfort at times, but fought the pain and restriction to stay out there.

Nick Larkey battled through the match despite visibly being affected by the injury. Picture: Getty Images

The Kangas’ full-forward, who will be crucial to the Roos’ hopes of upsetting Brisbane in Adelaide on Saturday, will have to pass a fitness test this week to gain clearance to play in ‘Gather Round’.

The goal kicker has been one of North’s best players to start the season after hauls of six, four and two goals across the first three games.

But he was kept goalless on Friday as the undersized Roos’ defence was unable to contain the Blues’ forward line firepower in the 23 point Carlton win.

It was an important win for the Blues who have been criticised for the start to the season, but Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay had a field day to chalk up a comfortable victory.

The Kangaroos would have been tempted to substitute Larkey in the third term as Carlton rattled off six goals in a row but coach Alastair Clarkson called off veteran onballer Ben Cunnington instead.

Cunnington had only 10 possessions and zero clearances for minus 15 metres gained when he was pulled from the ground for Hugh Greenwood.

Clarkson spoke with a disappointed Cunnington as he sat down on the bench.

Carlton’s Mitch McGovern had his right hamstring strapped in the first half and went down the race with trainers, but he played on.