One of the stories of season 2022 is that of Paddy McCartin.
The former no.1 draft pick will debut for the Sydney Swans against GWS this Saturday, more than three years after his last AFL appearance with St Kilda.
McCartin, 25, was forced into premature retirement due to concussion issues but after spending time in the football wilderness, and then honing his craft as a defender with the Swans’ VFL team, he is set to return at the elite level.
Former Swans star Gerard Healy has praised the persistence of McCartin and believes his recruitment could prove to be a masterstroke by Sydney.
“I want to recognise a great story of perseverance,” he said on Sportsday.
“That of Paddy McCartin who was named by Sydney to re-kickstart his career on the weekend.
“We know concussion is a big issue in sport but as Paddy McCartin has proven, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your career has to end even though he’s had a horrible run of successive head knocks.
“It’s taken a toll on his career but he’s hung in there and he gets another opportunity.
“It’s impossible to know on exposed form but I’m not sure he was ever going to make it as a full-forward.
“But as a full-back, and I know this is on a small sample size admittedly, he looks super impressive.
“This could prove to be one of the more inspired recruiting decisions by a club in recent times when Paddy McCartin is sitting at full-back when the Swans are playing off in a Grand Final in the near future.”
McCartin, who played 35 games for the Saints between 2015 and 2018, will partner with his younger brother Tom in defence as the Swans look to kick off the new season with a win in the Sydney Derby at Accor Stadium on Saturday evening.