AFL player manager Scott Lucas says he is unconcerned with reports embattled St Kilda forward Paddy McCartin is struggling with demands of football.
Former Geelong star Billy Brownless, whose daughter dates McCartin, said the 21-year-old Saint was “flat” with football after being dropped from the side and suffering another concussion in the VFL last weekend.
Lucas, who manages McCartin, took it as a positive his client was battling with his current situation.
“No I’m not (concerned) because those that are frustrated the most are the ones that it often means the most to and have the fiercest desire to be as great as they can be,” he told SEN’s The Run Home.
“Every young player wants it to happen yesterday and believes it should, which is great and it’s why they are in the AFL.”
McCartin is unlikely to play at any level this weekend after being knocked out playing for Sandringham against Coburg last Saturday.
The concussion was the third in 12 months for the No.1 draft pick who missed a total of five matches last season after two separate head knocks.
Lucas moved to allay fears the key forward’s head trauma issues were career threatening.
“The medical people were confident it was just isolated incidents where it was irrelevant what had previously happened,” he said.
“It wasn’t that he was predisposed to receiving knocks and getting concussed.
“The knock he got last week, and the way it happened, would have probably concussed most blokes in the competition."
Asked if McCartin could return in a helmet - as Richmond’s Ben Griffith’s did last season after sustaining a number of concussions – Lucas said it was a possibility.
“It’s always an option but for every expert that says they are beneficial there is one who says they are not,” he said.
Since being taken pick one in 2014 the hulking forward has kicked 22 goals from 22 matches, including five from five appearances this season.