Paddy McCartin could very well be in good hands at Sydney.
The former number one draft pick and St Kilda forward was recently added to the Swans’ list after stepping away from the game at the end of 2019 due to concussion issues.
While McCartin has not played at AFL level since the 2018 season, perhaps he is in the right place to resurrect his career at the elite level.
The 25-year-old can take heart from a number of recycled players who have been able to turn things around in the red and white.
Sam Edmund referenced the likes of Shane Mumford, Ted Richards, Josh Kennedy and more recently Tom Hickey when assessing McCartin’s future with the Swans.
He said on SEN Breakfast: “Is there anything to read into the fact that he’s gone to the club that might just be the recycling specialists?
“They’re a club that has a track record going back many a year now where they can resuscitate or turn around (careers).
“Forget Barry Hall, Tony Lockett and Buddy Franklin, they’re in a different bracket.
“But Shane Mumford, Nick Davis, Ted Richards, Rhyce Shaw, Marty Mattner, Jason Ball and Josh Kennedy. Darren Jolly was another one. How good last year was Tom Hickey?
“So if any club can harness it, find the niche, find the window where Paddy can play his absolute best footy, maybe it’s Sydney.”
Former Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins believes McCartin, who has spent much of his career as a forward, can be of assistance to the Swans as a defender having played there in the VFL last year.
He suggests that the group of established players at the club will be well prepared to help him assimilate and flourish.
“There’s definitely an element of that and Sydney would trust themselves now with that chunk of experience with those players,” he added, responding to Edmund.
“They would back themselves in and they’ve obviously got a plan that works and they can implement something that works for those recycled players. They might have a program in place that allows them to succeed.
“He’s had his concussion issues, we know why he fell out of the league, but some of them just need another opportunity.
“I think his future would be down back but we shall see.”
Jenkins has no doubt that recruiters around the country would have been watching McCartin closely during his stint in the reserves and says the Swans having nothing to lose by offering him another opportunity.
“The scouts watch you more closely too and a lot of them would have fallen in love with him as a junior,” he said further.
“They might have gone to their club and said, ‘I think we can still make something of him’.
“That’s probably what the Swans have done and it’s worth a shot.”
Paddy, who has played 35 AFL games, has joined younger brother Tom at the Bloods where he has been signed as a rookie for the 2022 season.