This REALLY concerns me

[picket fence 16,014]

Swans Paddy McCartin ruled out for rest of season with ongoing concussion concerns

SERIOUSLY

Can someone Family, AFL, Swans just say

ENOUGH .. NO MORE FOOTY EVER!

PLEASE!🤯

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,589]

10 hours ago, picket fence said:

Swans Paddy McCartin ruled out for rest of season with ongoing concussion concerns

SERIOUSLY

Can someone Family, AFL, Swans just say

ENOUGH .. NO MORE FOOTY EVER!

PLEASE!🤯

I know what you're saying, but it's a bit like trying to make a smoker quit or a alcoholic stop drinking etc at some point surely it comes down to the individual making decisions about how they want to live and what they consider life is about living for?

We let people do all sorts of things involving risk in our society.  Riding road bikes is a risk I'd never be comfortable with, yet many keen riders I know have multiple near death accidents and get right back on the saddle - why?  Because it's something they love doing in life.

[Gawndy the Great 8,240]

Is it possibly that swans are keeping him employed for monitoring and medical treatment rather than letting him retire and leaving him to care for himself? 

Cannot see him coming back from this. 

[Buzzy 966]

It's his life.  If he wants to sign a waiver and play, that's entirely up to him.

Don't understand why people weigh in on this, it's not up to anyone else but the person who bears the risk.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,232]

9 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Is it possibly that swans are keeping him employed for monitoring and medical treatment rather than letting him retire and leaving him to care for himself? 

Cannot see him coming back from this. 

Possibly having their insurance paying for treatment rather than Paddy or the club being out of pocket..?

 

 

[bush demon 1,936]

15 minutes ago, Buzzy said:

It's his life.  If he wants to sign a waiver and play, that's entirely up to him.

Don't understand why people weigh in on this, it's not up to anyone else but the person who bears the risk.

That is not correct. There are friends, family, potentially carers, the whole sporting community, not to mention ambulance-chasing class-action lawyers as players in these tragic events. This is the prime reason the AFL is now bearing down big-time on head-high collisions and tackling. I dare say the current form of the game will be obsolete in twenty years time, when the full impact of head trauma is better understood and appreciated by sporting parents and the community in general.

[drysdale demon 4,463]

The AFL had an opportunity to prevent him from playing again and didn't initiate it, interesting to see what action may be taken against them in the future.

[dazzledavey36 50,438]

Gobsmacked he was allowed to play again.

I really do feel for him but a part of me says he was fully aware of the risks and education around head knocks around the time he chose to resume his career.

He knew well and truly what he was getting himself back into and for that I don't know whether I can fully sympathise with him.

AFL should have at least stepped in and advised kindly not to play.

 

[BDA 20,972]

The risks around concussion are well known. He's a grown adult. He can make his own decisions.

Many sportspeople are banged up post career. I haven't heard too many of them say they regret punishing their body or would make different decisions if they had their time over.

 

[DubDee 22,787]

10 hours ago, picket fence said:

Swans Paddy McCartin ruled out for rest of season with ongoing concussion concerns

SERIOUSLY

Can someone Family, AFL, Swans just say

ENOUGH .. NO MORE FOOTY EVER!

PLEASE!🤯

maybe leave the decision to the medical experts and him and his family?

[DubDee 22,787]

a lot of people said the same about Angus but years later he has a flag and he is set up for life

Paddy is worse of course but there were similar sentiments on here

[layzie 30,938]

Not going to tell the guy to retire or not but boy it's hard to watch. 

[DeelightfulPlay 2,389]

But if the effects of concussion make your decision making worse over time... then maybe it's not surprising he's making the bad decision to continue playing?  

(Edit:  which is why the community needs to step in to support him, rather than allow it to continue and then act surprised and sad at the worst case scenario when it happens)

Edited May 30, 2023 by DeelightfulPlay
Added sentence

[george_on_the_outer 7,172]

11 hours ago, picket fence said:

Swans Paddy McCartin ruled out for rest of season with ongoing concussion concerns

SERIOUSLY

Can someone Family, AFL, Swans just say

ENOUGH .. NO MORE FOOTY EVER!

PLEASE!🤯

 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Gobsmacked he was allowed to play again.

I really do feel for him but a part of me says he was fully aware of the risks and education around head knocks around the time he chose to resume his career.

He knew well and truly what he was getting himself back into and for that I don't know whether I can fully sympathise with him.

AFL should have at least stepped in and advised kindly not to play.

Absolutely correct!!

I was chatting with another Demons supporter at a training session, who was a boxing coach.  He told me McCartin would never be allowed into the ring again if he was a boxer.

The rules in Victoria for KO, TKO or concussion are a mandatory 30 days away from competition or even training.  Next KO etc is 60 days, next 90 days.  4 KO's etc is a 12 month suspension. 

For a sport which is so brutal, it is laughable that AFL protocols provide less protection, and less consequence for subsequent concussions to the player. 

Just give it away Paddy.  Speak with John Barnes and find out what you are doing to yourself.

[WalkingCivilWar 36,476]

Paddy’s last concussion was in Round 4 (who can forget that disturbing footage of him being helped to the bench) and seven weeks later he’s still showing symptoms of that concussion. For that reason alone, if he was my son he’d never set foot on a field again. Yes, he’s a grown man, but one never stops being a mother. And you know how the saying goes… “mother knows best.” 😉 

[Fanatique Demon 2,495]

That last concussion just looked like an innocuous bump of his head onto the ground, with no other player involved. It suggests to me that he is only ever moments away from the next one. Time to retire, Paddy, and enjoy the next 50 years as best you can.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,540]

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Gobsmacked he was allowed to play again.

...

AFL should have at least stepped in and advised kindly not to play.

 

Perhaps the AFL did. Who would know, other than the player himself.

[monoccular 16,916]

4 hours ago, Buzzy said:

It's his life.  If he wants to sign a waiver and play, that's entirely up to him.

Don't understand why people weigh in on this, it's not up to anyone else but the person who bears the risk.

 

3 hours ago, BDA said:

The risks around concussion are well known. He's a grown adult. He can make his own decisions.

Many sportspeople are banged up post career. I haven't heard too many of them say they regret punishing their body or would make different decisions if they had their time over.

 

I guess a “smart lawyer” could argue that his concussions make him not competent to properly consider any waver conditions.  
A very difficult issue.  
A bit like people having a right to be alcoholics or do certain drugs then becoming “brain dead”.   No simple answer. 

[Vagg 2,425]

Really gotta feel for the guy.  #1 Draft pick.  Opportunity of a lifetime to play the game at the highest level, as a KPF.  Series of concussions, and he has to prematurely end his career.  Then, bobs up on Sydney's list, and starts playing great footy as a defender, alongside his brother.  Once again living the dream.  Then, yet another concussion, and the future again looks bleak.  Dunno if it's true, but media today reported he's now suffered TEN concussions in his career.  That is simply horrendous!

As I said at the start, really gotta feel for him.  Such a shame.  But, guess he's not alone in having an otherwise potentially great footy career curtailed by injury.

[old dee 23,350]

5 minutes ago, Vagg said:

Really gotta feel for the guy.  #1 Draft pick.  Opportunity of a lifetime to play the game at the highest level, as a KPF.  Series of concussions, and he has to prematurely end his career.  Then, bobs up on Sydney's list, and starts playing great footy as a defender, alongside his brother.  Once again living the dream.  Then, yet another concussion, and the future again looks bleak.  Dunno if it's true, but media today reported he's now suffered TEN concussions in his career.  That is simply horrendous!

As I said at the start, really gotta feel for him.  Such a shame.  But, guess he's not alone in having an otherwise potentially great footy career curtailed by injury.

Vagg I think it is time the AFL said no more. 

[forever demons 2,037]

12 minutes ago, Vagg said:

Really gotta feel for the guy.  #1 Draft pick.  Opportunity of a lifetime to play the game at the highest level, as a KPF.  Series of concussions, and he has to prematurely end his career.  Then, bobs up on Sydney's list, and starts playing great footy as a defender, alongside his brother.  Once again living the dream.  Then, yet another concussion, and the future again looks bleak.  Dunno if it's true, but media today reported he's now suffered TEN concussions in his career.  That is simply horrendous!

As I said at the start, really gotta feel for him.  Such a shame.  But, guess he's not alone in having an otherwise potentially great footy career curtailed by injury.

Ten concussions,give it away boy ,you have to much to live for.Someone has to stop him nothing good can come out of him playing on

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,540]

1 minute ago, forever demons said:

Ten concussions,give it away boy ,you have to much to live for.Someone has to stop him nothing good can come out of him playing on

I appreciate your point and I know if he were my son I'd want him to stop playing. However, mental health is a complex matter. His self-respect may be tied intrinsically to his professional career. Perhaps he may be worse off not playing as it might be the one thing that he loves? I hope he is getting the best medical advice, not just about the physical effects of concussion but the consequences on his current and future mental health whatever decision he makes.

[forever demons 2,037]

2 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Paddy’s last concussion was in Round 4 (who can forget that disturbing footage of him being helped to the bench) and seven weeks later he’s still showing symptoms of that concussion. For that reason alone, if he was my son he’d never set foot on a field again. Yes, he’s a grown man, but one never stops being a mother. And you know how the saying goes… “mother knows best.” 😉 

Had 3 knee ops first when i was 17 the last one mum said if you play again dont come home or you get a belting.Mother does know best

[Little Goffy 13,484]

I understand the point a few people have raised that it is his life and his decision to make, but at a certain level the game is bigger than the player. The principle of setting an example to kids also comes into it.

McCartin clearly has a severe risk of further injury which could be on an utterly catastrophic scale. He's basically playing with an unhealed injury which clearly can be re-injured and worsened with the slightest unlucky bump.

It isn't an example to set for kids.

It isn't fair on the league which would cop millions of dollars of lost revenue from the horror impact of what's looking like a near-inevitable major brain injury if he keeps playing.

It isn't fair on the people who care and support him - just because you know you'll be helped doesn't mean you should take massive risks that will have lifelong impact everyone who loves you.

It isn't fair on the random player who happens to be tackling or taking a contested mark at the moment that some incidental glancing blow causes McCartin to permanently lose major motor functions.

[Palace Dees 2,069]

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Vagg I think it is time the AFL said no more. 

Would that prevent him playing at a lower level?  I don't know. 

His doctor needs to say it.