Brains Trust66
Norm Smith Medallist
Brain injury likened to car-crash victim, but tests give cursed Saint hope
Mitch Cleary
Oct 29, 2019 9:24AM
Paddy McCartin with St Kilda footy boss Simon Lethlean in May. Picture: Michael Willson
CRITICAL meetings on Friday have given Paddy McCartin's football career hope as he recovers from brain injuries likened to those suffered by car-crash victims.
McCartin was delisted by St Kilda on Monday despite one year to run on his contract, giving him ample time to return from from eight concussions sustained across his five-year career.
Jetting in from holiday in Bali last week following a season on the sidelines, McCartin had resigned himself to being told his life as an AFL footballer was over.
However, he has been given the green light to continue a steady rehabilitation process in the aim of returning in 2021.
The No.1 pick from the 2014 NAB AFL Draft will sit out the entire 2020 season, but the Saints have indicated they would be open to recruiting him once again should his situation improve.
"I was pretty certain if these tests didn't go well, that was going to be it, I wasn't going to be able to play again," McCartin told SEN on Tuesday.
"Hopefully all that can clear up and potentially (I) get back to play.
"Firstly, that I can get back to a quality of life that I had before is the best part. Then, potentially on top of that, I can get back and play footy is awesome."
The 23-year-old's last concussion came in his last competitive match, a pre-season fixture in Ballarat in March.
He then sought expert advice from concussion specialists in Chicago in June.
Paddy McCartin on the bench in a pre-season game in Ballarat. Picture AFL Photos
"They found I've got something on with my eyes and my brain. I've got a convergence spasm," he said.
"In the dark and without me being able to control it, my eyes spasm and cross over and it's because a part of my brain that's not working with my eyes, which is a bit scary, but something can correct itself.
"They were pretty certain it was an accumulative thing."
McCartin will be forced to go slow in the next phase of his rehabilitation, going against his natural tendencies of pushing boundaries.
"I've been doing a lot of work with a guy in South Yarra, that's been 3-4 times a week for an hour a day for two or three months," he said.
"(Spearately) Owen White (neurologist), his opinion was that I've got neural pathways in my brain which have changed and the way he compared it was to people who've had car accidents.
"That can be corrected and changed and you have to fix it to the way they were normally."
McCartin has played 35 games in his AFL career
Mitch Cleary
Oct 29, 2019 9:24AM
Paddy McCartin with St Kilda footy boss Simon Lethlean in May. Picture: Michael Willson
CRITICAL meetings on Friday have given Paddy McCartin's football career hope as he recovers from brain injuries likened to those suffered by car-crash victims.
McCartin was delisted by St Kilda on Monday despite one year to run on his contract, giving him ample time to return from from eight concussions sustained across his five-year career.
Jetting in from holiday in Bali last week following a season on the sidelines, McCartin had resigned himself to being told his life as an AFL footballer was over.
However, he has been given the green light to continue a steady rehabilitation process in the aim of returning in 2021.
The No.1 pick from the 2014 NAB AFL Draft will sit out the entire 2020 season, but the Saints have indicated they would be open to recruiting him once again should his situation improve.
"I was pretty certain if these tests didn't go well, that was going to be it, I wasn't going to be able to play again," McCartin told SEN on Tuesday.
"I went in there (the Alfred Hospital) and did these tests and spoke to these specialists and they came to the conclusion that I've got a few things going on in my head and it would be 8-10 months before all this fixes up.
"Hopefully all that can clear up and potentially (I) get back to play.
"Firstly, that I can get back to a quality of life that I had before is the best part. Then, potentially on top of that, I can get back and play footy is awesome."
The 23-year-old's last concussion came in his last competitive match, a pre-season fixture in Ballarat in March.
He then sought expert advice from concussion specialists in Chicago in June.
Paddy McCartin on the bench in a pre-season game in Ballarat. Picture AFL Photos
"They found I've got something on with my eyes and my brain. I've got a convergence spasm," he said.
"In the dark and without me being able to control it, my eyes spasm and cross over and it's because a part of my brain that's not working with my eyes, which is a bit scary, but something can correct itself.
"They were pretty certain it was an accumulative thing."
McCartin will be forced to go slow in the next phase of his rehabilitation, going against his natural tendencies of pushing boundaries.
"I've been doing a lot of work with a guy in South Yarra, that's been 3-4 times a week for an hour a day for two or three months," he said.
"(Spearately) Owen White (neurologist), his opinion was that I've got neural pathways in my brain which have changed and the way he compared it was to people who've had car accidents.
"That can be corrected and changed and you have to fix it to the way they were normally."
McCartin has played 35 games in his AFL career
