Paddy McCartin a Swan

[shanegrambeau]

Be interesting to see if the slag .... oops sorry I mean Wag who dropped him as he was no longer on an AFL list , will be trying to hook up with him again .

You know her personally?

Everyone knows, status has absolutely NOTHING to do with eligibility. This inclusive society reserves the right to EXCLUDE and CANCEL anyone who suggests otherwise.

[Scollop]

Since Reg Grundy retired the Swans have been looking for a 'solid' sort of fella to play on the big gorilla forwards

I think if he plays in the seniors and he gets regular games they will use Paddy in the backline.

[Vortex]

Since Reg Grundy retired the Swans have been looking for a 'solid' sort of fella to play on the big gorilla forwards

I think if he plays in the seniors and he gets regular games they will use Paddy in the backline.

Could the Swans be thinking more he is a replacement for Buddy who is possibly in his last year.

[CQ SAINT]

On recent form, he could be a hit man when needed.

[Ghost Like]

Is that true his brother said, "He's retrained his brain." Or words to that effect? My tiny brain cannot comprehend that as you are either concussed, not concussed or lying to yourself & your club that you are not concussed.

I think the cross Paddy bares about being the #1 Pick has ultimately pushed him towards a foolhardy decision. One that I'm betting the AFL, the Swans and three teams of lawyers have played a part in.

[Otiman]

I'm torn 3 ways on this.

I'm really happy the bloke gets another chance to play top level footy. He clearly 'had it' and was cut down through no fault of his own. Did everything he could to stay on the park but circumstances (not luck) were against him.

I'm also really upset that with so many repeat concussions, that anyone would be enabling him to play again. I'm not a doctor but reading enough about concussions and CTE to be worried. I guess he is that keen for footy that he'll risk his life for it. A bit like the racing drivers of the 50's and 60's.

Thirdly, I'm scared if he ends up being a premiership winning gun I will feel bad that we let him go for nothing.

[Vortex]

I'm torn 3 ways on this.

I'm really happy the bloke gets another chance to play top level footy. He clearly 'had it' and was cut down through no fault of his own. Did everything he could to stay on the park but circumstances (not luck) were against him.

I'm also really upset that with so many repeat concussions, that anyone would be enabling him to play again. I'm not a doctor but reading enough about concussions and CTE to be worried. I guess he is that keen for footy that he'll risk his life for it. A bit like the racing drivers of the 50's and 60's.

Thirdly, I'm scared if he ends up being a premiership winning gun I will feel bad that we let him go for nothing.

I have no doubt that if he can avoid concussions he will become part of the Swans best 22.

[SaintPav]

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds but I prefer our current forward set up, whatever that is exactly.

[cwrcyn]

Given his history, one or two knocks and it's all over. Sad, but I thinks that's where it sits. I hope I'm wrong.

[saynta]

Is that true his brother said, "He's retrained his brain." Or words to that effect? My tiny brain cannot comprehend that as you are either concussed, not concussed or lying to yourself & your club that you are not concussed.

I think the cross Paddy bares about being the #1 Pick has ultimately pushed him towards a foolhardy decision. One that I'm betting the AFL, the Swans and three teams of lawyers have played a part in.

"AFL

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Former Melbourne Demon and Fremantle Docker Harley Bennell is poised to make a shock state-league return where it all began.

News Corp can reveal the 29-year-old has been training at WAFL outfit Peel Thunder since the club returned from Christmas break about a month ago.

First-year Thunder coach Geoff Valentine said the former No. 2 draft pick had been impressive on the track since joining in first session of the New Year at Rushton Park, highlighting his leadership, work ethic and voice around a developing group.

Valentine said while there was still “a lot of water to go under the bridge”, he was optimistic the Pinjarra product could feature early in the season if he kept progressing.

Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.
Harley Bennell is posed to make a WAFL comeback. Picture: Jono Searle/AFL Photos
Harley Bennell is posed to make a WAFL comeback. Picture: Jono Searle/AFL Photos

It would be a remarkable comeback for the talented-but-injury-prone midfielder, who made his senior debut for the Thunder as a bottom-aged colt back in 2009 before getting snapped up by Gold Coast the following year.

He will be a one-point player for the Thunder.

Bennell’s three-club, 88-game AFL career at the Dockers, Suns and Melbourne was plagued by persistent calf injuries and off-field issues.

Just as he appeared to be getting things back on track at the Demons in 2020, he was suspended and fined for a COVID-19 protocol breach in Queensland.

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Bennell then retired from AFL football and returned home to WA, where he played for his junior club Pinjarra in the Peel Football League alongside fellow ex-Dockers Hayden Ballantyne and Brock O’Brien.

He looks in great physical condition and recently won the best-on-ground medal in a star-studded charity match at Leederville Oval..
How McCartin made surprise concussion comeback

- Jon Ralph

Paddy McCartin is officially back on an AFL list after signing with Sydney as a rookie following a strong summer of training.

The former No.1 draft pick has made a rousing comeback from serious concussion issues that had derailed his professional AFL career.

McCartin had played as a forward and back for Sydney’s VFL team last year, but endured a lengthy suspension and the interruption of the season due to Covid issues.

At just 25, he now has a chance to again make his mark after being officially signed by the Swans as part of the AFL’s supplemental selection period rules on Monday.
Paddy McCartin played 35 games for St Kilda after being selected with the No.1 pick in the 2014 draft. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Paddy McCartin played 35 games for St Kilda after being selected with the No.1 pick in the 2014 draft. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

His brother Tom McCartin, a brilliant young Sydney defender, told the Herald Sun last year that Paddy had retrained his brain after a litany of concussion issues in his time at St Kilda.

McCartin has had to get AFL permission through its medical panel to progress back to AFL level through a series of stepping stones that included a return to training, then full contact training, then VFL football.

“He is back to normal and living a normal life. Twelve months ago if you listened to his (Triple M) interview he was struggling to do much at all, not leaving the house, and he’s back to living a normal life, which is great,” Tom McCartin said.

“He was seeing a bloke three times a week retraining his brain and I remember him saying it was harder than any pre-season training session he had done, so much concentration and it goes for five or six hours at a time, it’s pretty full on, but he’s only seeing him every three weeks so it’s going well.”
Paddy McCartin battled multiple concussions with the Saints. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

[Saintmatt]

I'm torn 3 ways on this.

I'm really happy the bloke gets another chance to play top level footy. He clearly 'had it' and was cut down through no fault of his own. Did everything he could to stay on the park but circumstances (not luck) were against him.

I'm also really upset that with so many repeat concussions, that anyone would be enabling him to play again. I'm not a doctor but reading enough about concussions and CTE to be worried. I guess he is that keen for footy that he'll risk his life for it. A bit like the racing drivers of the 50's and 60's.

Thirdly, I'm scared if he ends up being a premiership winning gun I will feel bad that we let him go for nothing.

I have no doubt that if he can avoid concussions he will become part of the Swans best 22.

Agree. And certainly at the SCG where the dimensions of the ground mean that elite aerobic traits are less important. I heard on the news last night that they're going to use him as a defender that can swing forward. That's a pretty useful commodity at the SGC where the ball comes in quickly ... at both ends

[saynta]

Paddy played 5 or 6 games for the swans VFL side last year. mainly as a defender.

[magnifisaint]

So last year he wasn't able to lead a normal life and now that he's over the concussion he wants to risk it all again?

[ace]

Be interesting to see if the slag .... oops sorry I mean Wag who dropped him as he was no longer on an AFL list , will be trying to hook up with him again .

She was one of Billy's kid's wasn't she?

I thought she was one of kids of the former WAG that traded in Billy for Garry.

[shanegrambeau]

Paddy played 5 or 6 games for the swans VFL side last year. mainly as a defender.

Yes, and I was thinking it might be as a stopper, playing behind, that he might lessen the odds of a knock.

I imagine forwards running towards passes - on leads - are most susceptible to knocks. What do you think?

[shanegrambeau]

Paddy played 5 or 6 games for the swans VFL side last year. mainly as a defender.

Yes, and I was thinking it might be as a stopper, playing behind, that he might lessen the odds of a knock.

I imagine forwards running towards passes - on leads - are most susceptible to knocks. What do you think?

[B.M]

If you don’t think defenders can get KOd

Watch Harry Taylor get polaxed by Gardiner in that big mark vs Geelong

He was out before he hit the ground!!!

[CQ SAINT]

Tony Lockett knocked a couple out.

[shanegrambeau]

Fair enough.

So the verdict is concussion is an issue for chunky defenders as much as chunky forwards.?

[The Fireman]

knowing our luck he'll blitz

[B.M]

Concussion can happen to any player anywhere on the ground

Head hits are inevitable in AFL footy

You can go a whole season without copping one
Or
You can cop head knocks three weeks in a row or multiple times in a game

It just comes down to chance

[saynta]

I will just wish him well.

[Sainter_Dad]

knowing our luck he'll blitz

Only in one or two games a year - One will be the Pride Game and the other the return fixture for said Pride game (if there is one)

[The Fireman]

knowing our luck he'll blitz

Only in one or two games a year - One will be the Pride Game and the other the return fixture for said Pride game (if there is one)

why the pride game ?

[CQ SAINT]

knowing our luck he'll blitz

Only in one or two games a year - One will be the Pride Game and the other the return fixture for said Pride game (if there is one)

why the pride game ?

Because it's against us.