Brother of AFL duo who hadn’t played footy in seven years emerging as draft smokey

Lorne’s Charlie McCartin is emerging as one of the most interesting draft smokeys this off-season, according to AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich.

The 25-year-old middle brother of former No.1 pick Paddy McCartin and Sydney defender Tom McCartin is set to make his VFL debut for the Swans this weekend against GWS.

McCartin is well known to the Swans having worked part-time in recruiting with the club but hasn’t played football since he was 17 until this year due to health troubles. He has seriously impressed for Lorne under the coaching of former Blue Ed Curnow.

It’s not only the Swans who are interested in McCartin, with Carlton and St Kilda also taking trips down to Lorne to check out the athletic defender.

Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy quizzed Gabelich on SEN Sportsday about what fans can expect from the middle McCartin and his journey to this point so far.

Healy: “I got a text from a mate of mine who's a mad Swan and he’s got friends in Lorne, this was three weeks ago.

“He said, stay tuned, there’s news coming out of Lorne. Have you got that big news?”

Gabelich: “You're talking about Charlie McCartin, the middle brother of Paddy McCartin and Tom McCartin and he's been tearing it up in the Colac District League for Lorne under Ed Curnow.

“A lot of influential footy figures live in that part of the world … a call was made to Kinnear Beatson to say, ‘Have you had a look at him?’, because McCartin spent a lot of time working with Kinnear Beatson in Sydney's recruiting team.

“He worked with Scotty Lucas at Phoenix management. He's done a lot of different things since finishing school.

“He's had some health issues, so he hadn't played footy for seven years until this year.

“Now Charlie McCartin is going to play VFL for Sydney at the age of 25, he's going to make his debut on the weekend, he spent the week up there.

“There's no guarantee that they take him (on their AFL list), and they don't have dibs on him.”

Healy: “Well, someone else can take him too.”

Gabelich: “They're not the only club that is interested in him. Carlton has been down there and had a look, St Kilda have had a look.

“But it is an amazing story because of everything the McCartins have been through and how popular Charlie McCartin is in footy circles.

“We'll see him out of Blacktown against GWS and they've only committed to this weekend at this stage, but they've got history of picking players from obscure places.

“Dane Rampe was playing in the Sydney Footy League at 22 when they went and picked him and he's still going around now.

“It’s just a great story and one to keep an eye on. It’s one that's been bubbling away for the last month or so.”

Healy: “Can you tell me, are they picking him as a defender?”

Gabelich: “Well, I asked about Charlie McCartin today and he's a 195-centimetre key defender and a very polished left-footer.

“The challenge for recruiters is, it's a long way from Lorne to the AFL, so that’s why they're going to go and have a good look at him at VFL level.

“But he's quick, he’s tough, he plays like his brothers and there's an outside chance of him being picked up.”

Healy: “So why the hell hasn’t he been picked up before?”

Gabelich: “He's had a lot of health issues, and this is his first year playing footy again since the age of 17.

“So, it's taken a long time. He's 26 by the end of this year. So, this is his final shot.

“But he wasn't really contemplating a life as an AFL player.”

McCartin’s VFL debut for Sydney comes at Blacktown on Saturday against the Giants. The bounce for the Round 13 clash is set for 11:05am (AEST).