IT WAS in Geelong last year where Paddy McCartin showed thefirst real signs he would feature in the early parts of this year's NABAFL Draft.
Playing for Vic Country as abottom-ager, the competitive forward went in for a low ball and crunchedthe collarbone of Western Australia's captain Dom Sheed.
Althoughslightly dazed (he later found out he had a delayed concussion),McCartin played on and kicked five goals for his team in a breakoutperformance.
Somesmall injuries, including groin, quad, foot and finger complaints,stopped McCartin from taking the strides he would have hoped for in hisdraft season. But when he did play he made a big impact, and he is setto be an early pick.
He marks, he kicks goals and he does it every week.
McCartinis the most standout key forward of this year's draft crop, and this iswhy: he times his leads nicely, he competes like mad, he's tough,aggressive and makes people question whether to stand in front of him.
McCartinmarks strongly on the lead or in packs, and has the natural tendenciesfound in every good forward. He gets a lot of shots at goal and kicksmost, but also is good enough at ground level to scoop it up and snaparound his body. He's also selfless, and brings others into the game.
Hadhis season not been full of niggling interruptions, the 193cm and 92kgforward would have produced a dominant season at under-18 level.
Because of his injuries, McCartin wasn't able to put together asconsistent a season he would've hoped. The little setbacks meant hecouldn't push up the ground as much, where he could have developed hisrunning patterns further away from goal.
McCartin plays a little like Jarryd Roughead when the Hawk forwardfirst came into the AFL system. He's smart, knows the forward line andhow to get space on the lead and amasses shots at goal.
St Kilda is considering drafting him at pick No.1. If he doesn't goto Seaford, McCartin will be selected in the next handful of picks.
McCartin's the best key forward in the draft and one who candominate games and opponents. A big, strong and physical goalkicker whoenjoys crashing packs and being the target in attack.
