By Peter Ryan and Jon Pierik
In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Former No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin forced out of footy
- Favourite son Nic Natanui calls time at West Coast
- Injury clouds the future for Hawthorn’s Chad Wingard
- Gold Coast are working through contract details with Damien Hardwick
Sydney defender Paddy McCartin has announced his retirement due to concussion after specialists advised him it was not in his best interests to keep playing.
The decision came after he met an AFL panel of concussion experts which recommended he stop playing due to his long history of concussion to minimise the chances of further brain trauma.
Paddy McCartin and Lance Franklin at Swans training earlier this year.Credit: Phil Hillyard
The 27-year-old played 63 games in a career interrupted by repeated head knocks after St Kilda selected him with the No.1 pick in the 2014 national draft.
He battled the effects of concussion for much of his career at the Saints, where he managed 35 games and had eight concussions before being delisted at the end of 2019.
McCartin then received medical advice that he could return to play after visiting specialists in Chicago and undertaking a series of programs to treat his concussion, having recovered from the day-to-day battles he endured during part of his time at the Saints.
He made a tentative comeback through the state league in Sydney playing at the Swans, where his younger brother Tom plays, in 2021.
The Swans determined after consultation with specialists, McCartin and his family that he could return to the AFL, and he successfully resurrected his career in 2022 playing in defence. He played alongside his brother Tom as a key defender in the 2022 grand final against Geelong.
He played 24 games in 2022 as a key defender and including the grand final loss to Geelong.
However, he played his last game in round four when he was concussed after his head hit the ground during play against Port Adelaide, where he scrambled for a ground ball.
“I am obviously disappointed that I’m no longer able to continue to do what I love, but I have to be guided by the specialists and I know that this is the right decision for me,” McCartin said.
“I want to thank the Sydney Swans for the faith shown in me and the opportunity to pursue my dream of playing AFL football. It has been a privilege to play for this great club and I will remember this time fondly.
“I want to especially thank Lucy, my family, teammates, coaches and medical staff for their wonderful support through this challenging period. I’m very grateful.”
Sydney football manager Charlie Gardiner praised McCartin for his contribution to the club and the resilience he had shown during his time as a Swan.
“After joining the club’s VFL program in 2021, Paddy worked his way onto the senior list in 2022 where he quickly proved his talent, developing into an elite intercepting defender,” Gardiner said.
“He quickly embraced our club just as we embraced him, and he has been a highly valued teammate and much-loved player. Paddy can be very proud of what he has achieved, and we are grateful for the contribution he has made to the Bloods.”
McCartin’s decision comes a fortnight after Hawthorn ruckman Max Lynch decided to retire based on medical advice after a series of head knocks.
- Peter Ryan
Injury forces end to Nic Natanui’s career
Also on Monday, Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui became the latest West Coast great to announce his immediate retirement.
Nic Naitanui has announced his immediate retirement.Credit: AFL Photos
The 33-year-old played 213 games for the Eagles, but had been plagued by injury in recent seasons.
His announcement came after teammates Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey called it quits earlier this month.
The three-time All Australian and two-time club champion had a year left on his contract but an Achilles injury has brought his career to a premature end.
In his prime, ruckman Nic Naitanui was an imposing physical presence for the West Coast Eagles.Credit: Getty Images
“I feel like I have exhausted every avenue to work my way through my injury, but my body is sending a strong message that it is time,” he said.
“You never want this day to come, but it always does and I’m content in the knowledge that I have given it everything.
“Being a power athlete who has relied on my ability to jump throughout my career this injury was probably going to take that away from me.
“I am also looking at a lengthy rehabilitation from my latest surgery and there are no guarantees of making it back to AFL level even if everything goes to plan. I have given it a lot of thought in the last few weeks and this is the best decision for the club, myself and my family.
“I would also like to thank the club for the opportunity, the enormous amount of support I have received along the journey and the lifelong friendships that have been created.”
Eagles coach Adam Simpson described Naitanui as “one of the most influential players of his generation”.
“Sadly, he is the third club great to retire in the last three weeks,” he said. “In some respects it is the end of an era and we will certainly miss Nic.
“There have been few ruckman in history to have a bigger impact on the game, and he will always hold a special place in the history of the club.”
Off-field, the popular player and his fiancee Brittany Brown have a baby boy together and another child on the way.
– WA Today
Wingard’s future on hold at Hawks after serious foot injury, ex-teammate Gunston also sidelined
Chad Wingard is helped from the field in Launceston.Credit: Getty Images
Chad Wingard faces a nervous wait to learn about his AFL future after scans confirmed the Hawthorn star has ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Wingard, 30, had been in fine form over the past month, following a mid-year spell in the VFL. However, that changed when he was carried off University of Tasmania Stadium early in the first term of a three-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. Scans on Monday confirmed the worst.
Hawks football department boss Rob McCartney said the club will support the dual All Australian in his recovery.
“Whilst we know this is a disappointing outcome for Chad, his teammates, and the wider Hawthorn family, what we do know is Chad is a man of great resilience, and we will continue to support him on his road to full recovery post surgery,” McCartney said.
Wingard is off contract this year, and the Hawks had yet to confirm whether they want him to continue. While the speedy small forward had been in excellent touch, the Hawks are still rebuilding, and are in need of young talent.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Lions have been dealt a double blow, with Jack Gunston having strained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, and Daniel Rich straining a hamstring.
Gunston hobbled off the Gabba in the second term of Saturday’s six-point win over Adelaide, having had his knee buckle in a tackle.
The key forward, having booted 22 goals from 17 matches this season, is now in a race to return through the finals.
Meanwhile, Rich has again strained his hamstring, this time in the VFL, and will miss up to a month.
Sun hasn’t yet risen on Hardwick’s Gold Coast stint
The Gold Coast Suns are still working through contract details with Damien Hardwick, but were adamant on Monday night an appointment had not been made.
Hardwick is expected to sign with the Suns on a long-term deal to be their new coach, the three-time Richmond premiership coach having left Punt Road mid-season and taken an overseas holiday.
As first reported by The Age, Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans met with Hardwick in Italy this month and offered him the job of replacing the sacked Stuart Dew. However, Evans said on Monday there was “nothing to update or report on”. Evans said the Suns were not planning an announcement this week.
Sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the AFL would also review the terms of a Suns coaching contract before it became official, given the club is heavily funded by the league.
- Jon Pierik
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.