Concussion points have compelled Sydney defender and former No.1 draft choose Paddy McCartin into retirement for a second time ending one of many AFL’s nice comeback tales.
Ongoing damage battles have additionally compelled West Coast star and former N.2 draft choose Nic Naitanui into retirement on the age of 33 after 213 video games with the Eagles.
McCartin, 27, suffered the tenth concussion of his profession in spherical 4 in opposition to Port Adelaide and hasn’t performed since.
The Swans determined for him to sit down out the remainder of the 2023 season as a part of a plan to satisfy with medical doctors about his future.
McCartin, who revived his profession in Sydney after managing simply 35 video games with St Kilda because of repeated head knocks, thought of his choices earlier than deciding to retire.
McCartin informed his teammates of his choice on Monday ending an unfulfilled AFL profession which began with promise when he was taken as the primary choose within the 2014 draft.
He was delisted by St Kilda on the finish of the 2019 season to cope with concussion points and following a yr out of the sport, McCartin relocated to Sydney in 2021, the place his youthful brother Tom was paying for the Swans, to play with the VFL facet.
A transition into defence noticed him impress at that degree and he was subsequently supplied a rookie contract by the Swans for 2022.
The McCartin brothers performed an integral position within the Swans’ march to final yr’s grand remaining.
But after simply 28 matches in crimson and white, and solely 4 this season, McCartin will grasp up his boots.
Naitanui, a two-time West Coast finest and fairest who was taken second choose within the 2008 draft, joins fellow Eagles veterans Luke Shuey and Shannon Hurn in retirement having not performed a single recreation in 2023.
A 3-time All-Australian, Naitanui has been battling an Achilles damage that finally required surgical procedure a number of weeks in the past and stated his physique had informed him it’s time to stroll away.
“I feel like I have exhausted every avenue to work my way through my injury, but my body is sending a strong message that it is time,” Naitanui stated.
“You never want this day to come, but it always does and I’m content in the knowledge that I have given it everything.
“Being a power athlete who has relied on my ability to jump throughout my career this injury was probably going to take that away from me.
“I am also looking at a lengthy rehabilitation from my latest surgery and there are no guarantees of making it back to AFL level even if everything goes to plan. I have given it a lot of thought in the last few weeks and this is the best decision for the club, myself and my family.
“I would also like to thank the club for the opportunity, the enormous amount of support I have received along the journey and the lifelong friendships that have been created.”
Source: www.news.com.au
