Sydney Swans defender Tom McCartin has been ruled out of the SCG clash with crosstown rival GWS following a “nasty” hit from Giants forward Callum Brown.
McCartin gathered a loose ball on in the Giants’ half-forward line when Brown bumped him in the head with a slightly raised elbow.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Callum Brown collects Sydney’s Tom McCartin.
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With the AFL cracking down on high shots and the fact that McCartin was concussed in the incident, Brown is certainly going to be in trouble with the match review officer.
Fox Footy commentator David King said it was exactly the type of incident the league was trying to eradicate from football.
“That’s no good,” King said.
“You can’t brace like that and make that sort of contact anymore.
“He chooses to bump .. in the end he chooses to bump.
“I know he’s coming at speed and he’s got some decisions to make … but the one outcome that he must prevent is contact with the head.
“In terms of action, it’s what we are stamping out of the game … It must be penalised.”
Brisbane champion Alastair Lynch described it as a “nasty hit”.
And Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis said Brown was “in trouble”.
“There’s no doubt about that,” Lewis.
Not long after the incident Sydney confirmed that McCartin had suffered concussion and was out of the game.
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“Sad news,” King said, knowing McCartin has had an history with concussion injuries and his brother, Paddy, was forced into retirement due to head trauma.
“We wish him all the best .. we hope he’s OK,” King said.
McCartin missed several games last year due to concussion after a knock to the head against Port Adelaide in Round 4.
He returned a few weeks later in Round 7 and played two matches but then experienced headache symptoms and was again sidelined.
Paddy McCartin — a former No.1 draft pick — retired after suffering 10 concussions throughout his AFL career.
Paddy, who was also concussed in that Round 4 clash with Port, announced his retirement in August last year.
He was the No.1 pick in 2014 and played for St Kilda before joining Sydney for the 2022 season.
His time at St Kilda ended in 2018 when it was thought he may not play again because of his concussion history.
But he returned and played alongside his brother, and featured in Sydney’s 2022 grand final team.
Gun GWS midfielder Tom Green was also an early casualty in the game, ruled out with an ankle injury.
“He’s just rolled his ankle,” GWS Giants coach Adam Kingsley said during the half-time break. “He will have scans tomorrow (on Sunday).”