Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Saints confident McCartin will return soon

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson says key forward Paddy McCartin is nearly ready to return.

Paddy McCartin
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson says Paddy McCartin was nearly ready to play this weekend. (AAP)

St Kilda say they are playing the long game with top AFL prospect Paddy McCartin, despite his eagerness to return as soon as possible.

The No.1 draft pick will not play for a second week after he was concussed in a VFL match.

It was McCartin's sixth concussion since 2014.

Saints coach Alan Richardson said the key forward was on the verge of being available again, but had just failed one of the concussion tests.

"He's just fallen short of being able to pass one test in particular, but he's certainly heading the right way and he's getting there at the right speed - there's no rush.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"I'm going to sound like a broken record, he's going to be a ripper for us for a really long time.

"So we're not in a rush to get him back in - he is.

"But he's such an important investment for our footy club, we'll play him when it's the right time.

"We'd expect he's back playing footy pretty quickly."

McCartin, the 2014 top draft pick, has played five AFL games this season for a career total of 22.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world