St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna has admitted it was “concerning” and “alarming” to see former teammate Paddy McCartin suffer what is believed to be his tenth concussion in the AFL.
The Sydney Swans defender had to be helped from the ground after a seemingly innocuous incident early in Saturday’s game against Port Adelaide, with his brother Tom ruled out with concussion in the same match.
Paddy was subbed out almost immediately, with the Swans insisting they would take every precaution with the 26-year-old.
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McCartin concussed in distressing scenes | 01:12
McCartin suffered eight concussions across five seasons at St Kilda before being delisted by the club as he dealt with complications from repeated head trauma.
His return to the AFL via the Sydney Swans to play alongside his brother was one of the feel-good stories of the 2022 season.
Following Saturday night’s incident, however, Montagna said he was concerned for his former colleague.
“I think from what we saw on Saturday night in the Sydney and Port Adelaide game and the vision of Paddy McCartin and the concussion, I think like most people watching that game it was confronting, it was concerning and it was quite alarming,” he said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.
“To see I suppose the ease with which he got concussed from such an innocuous incident. No doubt there are some big decisions that are going to have to be made in the coming weeks.”
Montagna said he was not in a position to make a call on whether McCartin’s AFL career should continue, but noted the effects concussion had on some of his former teammates.
“What I would say is I have witnessed friends and teammates that are really struggling post-football partly due to concussion. It has affected their life and in some ways quite severely,” he said.
“It’s going to be a challenge for him with regards to what it looks like going forward.
“I was one that was surprised that he came back and played, obviously playing with him at St Kilda as a teammate and a friend. Seeing a couple of the incidents that gave him a concussion, hearing him speak publicly about the effects concussion did have on his life, to come back and play.
“The one thing he can’t do with his decision-making is project to what his health and his life will look like in another 25 years, that’s the hardest part. I suppose the question is: What would a 50-year-old Paddy McCartin say to himself tomorrow? Is it really worth it?”
Former Melbourne star forward Garry Lyon – a family friend of McCartin – said the former number one pick felt “good” the day after his latest incident.
Lyon warned against anyone trying to forecast or declare McCartin’s future other than McCartin himself along with his family, friends and support network.
“I’m not the spokesman for Paddy, but I’ve spoken to him today and the family and he feels good today,” he said on Fox Footy.
“They’ve obviously got a lot of decisions to make ahead of them, but lets not race to try and be the first to retire Paddy McCartin.
“Speaking of interventions and trying to protect him from himself paints a picture that he’s out there as a rogue just doing things on his own.
“He’s got a fantastic, beautiful supportive family, the Sydney footy club would be right behind him, they’ll put his health at the forefront and always will. Lets just cut him some slack.”
