Paddy McCartin should consider immediate retirement from the AFL, a leading brain injury expert has claimed, after the Sydney defender’s latest concussion raised fresh fears about his career and long-term health.
McCartin was subbed out of Saturday night’s two-point loss to Port Adelaide early in the first quarter after an innocuous scramble for the ball with the Power’s Todd Marshall on the SCG’s members’ side wing.
The 26-year-old had tackled Marshall and was reaching to recover the ball when his head appeared to make only gentle contact with the ground. McCartin was then assisted by trainers who carried him off the field as his legs buckled in highly distressing scenes.
It is believed to be his 10th concussion and his second since reviving his AFL career with the Swans at senior level last year, having previously stepped away from football after six seasons with St Kilda that were blighted by repeated head knocks.
Dr Alan Pearce, a prominent concussion expert and professor at La Trobe University, said it should probably be McCartin’s last game.
“While I’m not privy to Paddy’s latest concussion, [given] his history of this injury, he needs his medical doctors to discuss with him the risks to his long-term brain health, and seriously consider retirement,” Dr Pearce told the Herald and The Age.
Paddy McCartin receives attention from a trainer after suffering another concussion.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s a very difficult decision for Paddy psychologically, and he would need support to deal with this, but medical retirement should be considered. Athletes need protecting from themselves.”
McCartin has previously said he would have retired permanently had he been told by doctors that his record would make him even marginally more susceptible to concussions than any other player. But at a meeting with the AFL and a panel of specialists prior to his comeback with the Swans, he was cleared to resume playing and informed he was not deemed to be a higher risk.
Brain injury expert: Dr Alan Pearce.Credit: Simon Schluter
Dr Pearce disagrees. “The evidence shows clearly that a history of concussions poses increased risk for further concussion, the lower the impact force is required for subsequent concussion, the risk of worse symptoms, and risk of longer recovery periods,” he said.
“If these sports espouse [that] ‘the health and well-being of our athletes are our top priority’, then why do they let players continue to suffer brain injuries? It wouldn’t happen in other workplaces.”
Swans coach John Longmire said it was too early to speculate what Saturday night’s incident would mean for McCartin’s AFL future, and urged people to “take a deep breath” before jumping to conclusions, while the club’s football manager Charlie Gardiner said “every precaution” would be taken with him.
McCartin will be formally assessed in the next 24 to 48 hours, the club said.
He can technically play in Sydney’s Gather Round match in Adelaide against Richmond on Friday night – because Longmire decided to take him off without undergoing a head injury assessment, since he was obviously unwell, and thus hasn’t triggered the AFL’s mandatory protocols – but the Swans are expected to sideline McCartin until there is clarity around his condition.
Paddy’s brother, Tom McCartin, also suffered a concussion on Saturday night and having failed his HIA, will definitely not play against the Tigers at Adelaide Oval.
