BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 10: Paddy McCartin of the Saints leaves the field with possible concussion during the 2019 JLT Community Series AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the St Kilda Saints at Mars Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

St Kilda are unwilling to put a timetable on the return of luckless forward Paddy McCartin, as he continues to suffer from concussion symptoms after a head knock three weeks ago.

McCartin copped a hip to the head from teammate Ben Long in the Saints’ pre-season game against the Western Bulldogs.

The concussion was the 22-year-old’s eighth concussion in five years.

Saints coach Alan Richardson, who had forced McCartin to wear a helmet, indicated that it would be some time before the former No.1 draft pick was available for selection.

“It’s been three weeks now since the incident and paddy still has some symptoms,” Richardson told reporters at RSEA Park on Friday.

“That’s going to take a while.

“We can’t really put a timeframe on when it is that he’ll be back training flat-out or playing.”

McCartin joins Dan Hannebery, Jake Carlisle, Max King, Jack Bytel, and Dylan Roberton as Saints set to miss significant time in 2019.