MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 23: Paddy McCartin of the Saints looks on during the St Kilda Saints training session at RSEA Park on May 23, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)
Luckless Saint Paddy McCartin is willing to play anywhere in order to resurrect his AFL career after he stepped away from the game due to ongoing concussion issues.
The former number one draft pick hasn't played a game since 2018 and is no longer on the Saints list.
He was permitted to train with the club in 2020 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and still harbours hope of a return to the Saints list.
“I would absolutely love to be playing footy. As you guys know, there’s no guarantees in footy and there’s probably now more than ever a little more uncertainty in terms of trying to get back onto a list, but I’m really hoping someone anywhere would want to potentially take a chance,” McCartin told SEN Breakfast.
“The fire is burning pretty deep and I want to play, it’s just about getting that opportunity and I think the Saints, they’ve been incredible and they’ve been an amazing support, this year people have been saying I’ve been going in once a week, but I’ve been going in more than that.
“I’ve been going in just as much (as I would) if I was on the list and they’ve been really, really good and they’ve let me use the facilities and setting up training programs for me and stuff like that.
“They’ve been amazing and I’d love to keep playing at the Saints, but as I said before there’s no guarantees in footy and we’ll just have to wait and see, but fingers crossed.”
However, McCartin is open to the possibility of playing for a different club in order to return to the highest level of the game.
“I’d love to keep playing for the Saints, but technically I’m not on the list and there might be things that happen where it doesn’t get done,” he said.
“I’m open to anything and I think the Saints are too.
“Everyone is open to whatever, but in terms of this year, if there was a draft or a re-draft and the season gets pushed back a bit, as annoying as this situation has been, for me it has probably been not a bad thing because I’m making up a lot of this ground that I would have been making up at the club while everyone is playing games, but no one is playing at the moment so it is sort of like an off-season.
“Realistically, I’m good to go now in terms of playing. I’ve got to make up fitness and things like that, but in terms of there being this big concussion cloud hanging over my head and I might not be able to play again, that’s gone.
“I’m basically the same as any other player who is outside a list and looking to get drafted, so hopefully it does happen.
“If it’s the Saints or somebody else, I just want to play again.”
McCartin played 34 games in his four seasons at St Kilda.