McCartin mystery......?

[Blood Fever]

I disagree with the hiding of injury news for one reason only and that is that AFL is now a professional sport with betting on it. Punters are entitled to have full information on injury status before they lay a wager or we are laying it open for only people with inside knowledge to profit. For the record I am totally opposed to having betting on sport particularly where it involves humans as it opens up the pandoras box of corruption. I have little sympathy with punters but at the very least they are entitled to a fair go. In this case there is as yet little opportunity for betting but the non availability of a player for the season would see our premiership odds lengthen as we have already seen with Mitchell and Docherty. I particularly hate those betting ads that scream at you to lay a bet on a team and then in a very quiet and sober voice ask you to only bet responsibly

Yes, the serious sober voice when they want as many people hooked as possible, similar to the drink responsibly hypocrisy.

[stevoswan]

I don't understand all the angst about the reporting of McCartins injury.

He's had some ongoing symptoms which need to be investigated, end of story

.....you mean the clubs delay in reporting it, which has lead to unnecessary public speculation and probably more pressure on McCartin and the club itself which is not good for anyone......one would like to think they would have learnt from past experiences that show it's best to be 'upfront' about everything.

For instance, from what has been coming out of the club, we all thought that almost our entire squad was injury free.....turns out we didn't have enough players ready for a full intra club scratch match, forcing the club to seek help from our AFL 'neighbours' to even stage a game.....so it now looks like half our squad is not 'ready to play'....what the F is going on there? It's all a bit weird and hardly respectful to Swans fans if you ask me and frankly, it's not really good enough.

[Bloods05]

.....you mean the clubs delay in reporting it, which has lead to unnecessary public speculation and probably more pressure on McCartin and the club itself which is not good for anyone......one would like to think they would have learnt from past experiences that show it's best to be 'upfront' about everything.

For instance, from what has been coming out of the club, we all thought that almost our entire squad was injury free.....turns out we didn't have enough players ready for a full intra club scratch match, forcing the club to seek help from our AFL 'neighbours' to even stage a game.....so it now looks like half our squad is not 'ready to play'....what the F is going on there? It's all a bit weird and hardly respectful to Swans fans if you ask me and frankly, it's not really good enough.

Absolutely right.

[ernie koala]

.....you mean the clubs delay in reporting it, which has lead to unnecessary public speculation and probably more pressure on McCartin and the club itself which is not good for anyone......one would like to think they would have learnt from past experiences that show it's best to be 'upfront' about everything.

For instance, from what has been coming out of the club, we all thought that almost our entire squad was injury free.....turns out we didn't have enough players ready for a full intra club scratch match, forcing the club to seek help from our AFL 'neighbours' to even stage a game.....so it now looks like half our squad is not 'ready to play'....what the F is going on there? It's all a bit weird and hardly respectful to Swans fans if you ask me and frankly, it's not really good enough.

Maybe the reason McCartins concussion was not originally reported was more to do with the fact the original prognosis was of a concussion of a minor nature, which would not affect his preseason and therefore not worth reporting ...Wrong in hindsight.
When his symptoms either didn't improve or actually got worse, the seriousness of the injury became more apparent...Not too surprising, as sometimes what appears a minor concussion can be notoriously hard to evaluate.
I'm not one who thinks the club should be reporting every little injury that happens...That would be a never-ending long daily list of ailments..ie corks, hammy tightness, tummy ache....etc etc.
As for the scratch match..GWS were in the same boat...No doubt many other clubs would be also.
The fact "half our squad is not ready to play" is more to do with players having the right preparation for a RD 1 start, than it is to do with an injury crisis.

[MattW]

Sam Edmund on Twitter: "Hearing scans on young Swan Tom McCartin have been positive after a nasty knock and concussion at training a few weeks ago. McCartin was sent away for further testing, but may be ready to resume training next week. Excellent news. Made an impact last year.".

[dimelb]

Sam Edmund on Twitter: "Hearing scans on young Swan Tom McCartin have been positive after a nasty knock and concussion at training a few weeks ago. McCartin was sent away for further testing, but may be ready to resume training next week. Excellent news. Made an impact last year.".

[Odysseus]

It's great news. I just saw a report on the Swans app, which indicates he can resume training straight away. Also puts into perspective some of our conjectures, and to my mind underscores the correctness of the club's decision initially to withhold information.

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry, resume training on Monday.

[dejavoodoo44]

It's great news. I just saw a report on the Swans app, which indicates he can resume training straight away. Also puts into perspective some of our conjectures, and to my mind underscores the correctness of the club's decision initially to withhold information.

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry, resume training on Monday.

Yes, and it possibly suggests, that the rumours of it being career ending, may have originated in some internet sleuths, getting confused between Tom and Paddy McCartin.

[aardvark]

I'm guessing too much bad news at the start of the season might have an adverse effect on the amount of memberships sold. Just a theory.......

[Odysseus]

Longmire on SEN now (6pm Melbourne time).

[stevoswan]

Maybe the reason McCartins concussion was not originally reported was more to do with the fact the original prognosis was of a concussion of a minor nature, which would not affect his preseason and therefore not worth reporting ...Wrong in hindsight.
When his symptoms either didn't improve or actually got worse, the seriousness of the injury became more apparent...Not too surprising, as sometimes what appears a minor concussion can be notoriously hard to evaluate.
I'm not one who thinks the club should be reporting every little injury that happens...That would be a never-ending long daily list of ailments..ie corks, hammy tightness, tummy ache....etc etc.
As for the scratch match..GWS were in the same boat...No doubt many other clubs would be also.
The fact "half our squad is not ready to play" is more to do with players having the right preparation for a RD 1 start, than it is to do with an injury crisis.

Good post EK and you're scenario re: Tom McCartin seems sound....and it's probably about right. Maybe I jumped the gun but the way it all unfolded did invite speculation.

It's great news. I just saw a report on the Swans app, which indicates he can resume training straight away. Also puts into perspective some of our conjectures, and to my mind underscores the correctness of the club's decision initially to withhold information.

....only if Ernie Koala's scenario above is correct.

[ugg]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/swans-sigh-of-relief-after-mccartin-artery-scare-20190227-p510ox.html

Concerns had arisen that McCartin could miss a significant chunk of the season, however testing from specialists allayed the club’s fears. It turned out that an issue spotted in MRI testing was an abnormality McCartin had been born with and is not expected to affect his career.

Sydney coach John Longmire said on the club's website it had been a trying period for the McCartin family.

[S.S. Bleeder]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...27-p510ox.html

Phew. Imagine what the McCartin family must've been going through. Two sons capable of being elite AFL talent and their careers might be cut short. I hope the club is extra careful with Tom because he's going to be a gun. He and Blakey in the fwd line sounds so sweet.

[Mel_C]

This is fantastic news! Really happy for McCartin ????. It's nice to hear good news for a change.

[Odysseus]

....only if Ernie Koala's scenario above is correct.

What's emerged is that the initial knock that led to investigation had nothing to do with what was then found, and it was that investigation that led to further concern and tests. Or, less cryptically, concern about concusion led to an MRI scan (or scans) and showed an abnormality with an artery. This abnormality of itself had nothing to do with the knock. But it had to be investigated further, as it could have been pretty serious. The outcome of further medical investigation is that he's actually had this abnormality from birth and it is not a worry, so he can resume training. So our guessing about concussion - while understandable - was wide of the mark. In a stressful time for McCartin and family, the club kept quiet until a media report (which wasn't well founded - what a surprise!) forced its hand. That's why I believe the club's decision initially to withhold information was right.

Just as wrong as our conjectures was the frustration that I shared along with others about the lack of information. Sometimes we've just got to trust to the club's better judgement. I reckon I'd be upset and feel even more stressed if I were a player facing the kind of uncertainty McCartin did and the club put it into the media space.