Sydney Swans’ Tom McCartin on dealing with concussion setbacks and why he knows his best is still ahead of him

Tom McCartin is looking to put a ‘frustrating’ 2023 behind him as he becomes one of the leaders of the Swans’ defence, with the 24-year-old coming into his prime.

Tom McCartin is embracing the responsibility of being the Swans’ defensive leader. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The 2023 campaign was one of self-discovery for Tom McCartin.

By the end of the year, the 24-year-old key defender had confirmed his status as one of the competition’s best defenders and the new leader of the Swans’ backline.

He was pivotal in their run to the finals series and played some of the most impressive football of his career.

However, those highs only came after another frustrating year of injury for him and his brother, Paddy.

A season that was meant to see the McCartins become the pillars of Sydney’s defence saw Paddy retire from the AFL due to ongoing concussion issues and Tom miss nearly three months of footy due to his own concussion troubles.

McCartin established himself as the Swans’ most important defender by season’s end. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

For Tom, that time out of the side was a chance to reassess his priorities for the rest of the season. And he’s thankful that despite his own issues, Paddy was always there to help.

“I obviously had a fair stint on the sidelines, which was frustrating at the time,” Tom McCartin said.

“Because we both got a head knock in round four we were kind of dealing with it at the same time which was kind of good to bounce off someone.

“He’s had the experience and he’s always there, whether it’s concussions or anything in general. He’s always someone I can bounce off so I’m very lucky to have him.

“He’s still around the club a little bit, helping with training and stuff. I only got to play one season with him but it was good fun.

“I was glad I was able to come back and play a role [in 2023]. And I think having a few weeks off I came back feeling pretty fresh.

“So hopefully, I can continue to do that this season. My body is feeling pretty good at the minute which is positive. So touch wood, I stay fit.”

The McCartins continued to help each other through their concussion issues in 2023. Picture: Phil Hillyard

McCartin’s numbers by the end of the season placed him among the best in the competition. He was rated by Champion Data as elite for both contested possessions and spoils, while was also above average for intercept marks and possessions.

He saved his best performance for the year for the Swans’ last match with a heroic effort in their elimination final defeat against Carlton. McCartin finished with a season-high 18 disposals, 12 intercept possessions and nine marks in the six-point loss.

The key for McCartin and the Swans is building on the momentum they were able to generate out of defence late last year.

Once they had all their players back, they were able to build synergy and that’s only going to grow on the back of some targeted recruitment and even more competition for places.

“We’re looking good,” McCartin said. “Joel [Hamling] has been great for us so far … he’s got some great experience, is a premiership player, is knowledgeable about the game and loves helping out.

“It’s good that we’ve got a fair bit of depth. Last year was a tough one because we had a lot of injuries and a lot of different people went through.

“But it is a good thing because a lot of new boys got experience, and it’s gonna be tough for a spot this year so it’s a good problem to have. Everyone’s training well and then we can keep building cohesion in the back six. Hopefully, we just keep everyone fit and go from there.”

The 24-year-old dominated his battle against Charlie Curnow in the elimination final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Hamling, Lewis Melican and Aaron Francis have all looked impressive this pre-season as they look to force their way into John Longmire’s best 23.

But it’s 24-year-old McCartin, already going into his seventh year in the AFL, who will be their defensive leader.

His days of pinch-hitting forward are long gone – “I never got a touch down there so I don’t miss it” – and he is now the loudest voice marshalling his teammates.

McCartin is relishing that extra responsibility and grateful for the influence of his experienced teammates for putting him in a position where he can help take this Swans defence into the future.

A strong pre-season has McCartin primed to finally put together a consistent year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I still am pretty young, but I do feel like I’ve got a bit of experience now which is good,” McCartin said.

“This is my fourth season down back and I’ve still got a lot to learn. There are still plenty of experienced players in the backline like (Jake) Lloydy and (Dane) Ramps who are great.

“Ramps has been amazing for me, even when I was a forward. He’s kind of taken me under his wing and I’m continually learning from him as long as he’s at the footy club.

“We’ve got a lot of experience but it’s actually a lot of young players with Lizard (Nick Blakey), Ollie [Florent] and BJ (Braeden Campbell) coming through. We all complement each other well.

“We’ve got good halfback runners and if we get those blokes to play to their strengths, I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do and keep building on that over the next few years.

“It sounds cliche, but I feel like I haven’t had a season yet that’s been consistent, whether it’s injuries or form. So my main goal is just to do my role every week and be as consistent as I can.”