Brisbane Lions forward Linc McCarthy to make 100th AFL appearance

Having played less than 30 matches in seven seasons of AFL football with Geelong, Linc McCarthy considered retirement, but then the Brisbane Lions came calling.

Brisbane Lions forward Linc McCarthy kicks for goal at the Gabba. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

After making just 29 appearances across sevens seasons with Geelong, Linc McCarthy was ready to call time on his AFL career.

Plagued by injuries during his years with the Cats, the 2011 draftee had fallen out of love with the game.

“I considered pulling the pin,” McCarthy said.

And that career doubt didn’t suddenly stop when he joined the Lions for the 2019 season.

Despite being grateful to be given the chance to extend his time in the game, McCarthy didn’t want to become a burden on the Lions.

“There was probably six months there were I was weighing up whether it would be a good move for me or not, and even when I got here, I was still weighing up whether I’d be able to repay the faith they had in me,” he said.

But neither McCarthy nor the Lions needed to have worried.

Now 28, McCarthy has missed just two of the 72 AFL matches the Lions have played since his arrival in Brisbane.

The remarkable turnaround has McCarthy set to make his 100th AFL appearance on Sunday when the Lions meet the Gold Coast Suns in the QClash at Metricon Stadium.

Lions forward Linc McCarthy is set to make his 100th AFL appearance. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“It’s been a long time coming for me. It took me seven years to play 29 games for Geelong, so I definitely didn’t think I was going to get to 100, but I kept plugging away and I’ve started to really enjoy my footy the last few years, especially being up here,” the crafty forward said.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity and to do it with a great bunch of blokes has been good fun.”

Those “blokes” include 2020 Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, who was also drafted in 2011.

“Lachie doubled me last week (with 200 AFL appearances) and we got drafted together, so there’s a couple of contrasting careers right there, but I’m happy to be on the right track at the moment,” McCarthy said.

“There were definitely some times (with) footy, when I wasn’t doing it for the love, but definitely the last few years I have been.

“After my history (the Lions) gave me a three-year deal opportunity. That’s pretty lucky.

“I was surprised and grateful. Being able to grind my way back is something that I’m proud of.”

McCarthy said it was a good sign the Lions had not yet played their best football this season but still had four wins from five matches.

“We’ve got a few things we’ve got to fix up a little bit. That will change the way we play and make us a little bit harder to play against,” he said.

“Hopefully we can do that pretty quickly, because (there are no) easy games in the AFL these days.”

Originally published as Brisbane Lions forward Linc McCarthy to make 100th AFL appearance