PADDY BECOMES A SAINT Humbling. Surreal. Honoured. These were the words of Paddy McCartin (Fr’14) after he was taken by St Kilda with Pick 1 in the 2014 AFL Draft; the first time a student from Geelong Grammar School has been selected with the first pick in the draft. The weeks and months preceding the draft were littered with speculation as to Paddy’s future home. From being touted as a likely number 1 pick in July, to slipping as low as 5-6 in a number of ‘phantom drafts’ in the lead-up to November 27, Paddy was never quite sure where he would end up until his name was called by the Saints. “I didn’t know, I just found out now like everyone. It’s been a bit daunting, a big couple of days, but I’m absolutely stoked to get the opportunity,” Paddy said immediately after being drafted.
The AFL Draft saturates the Melbourne media landscape in the weeks prior, with journalists on the lookout for a different angle or point of difference for a player. When it came to Paddy, they didn’t have to look far. Paddy was diagnosed as a type-1 diabetic at the age of nine; monitoring his insulin levels has become a major part of his life ever since. Along with his family, Paddy was determined that his diabetes wouldn’t place any unnecessary limitations on his life. “One of the first things my parents said when I got diagnosed was that it wasn’t going to stop me from doing anything, and that they weren’t going to let it. It hasn’t, so far, and hopefully I can keep that going. I don’t see why I can’t. Having footy there has made me more organised and helped me find that stability.” Paddy joined the School in Year 11 on a Sport Scholarship. During his time representing the Light Blue, he kicked 62 goals at an average of better than four per game. In an interview with 3AW prior to the draft, Paddy spoke of his pride when offered a scholarship by the School and his desire to make good on the opportunity. “Getting a scholarship at a school like Geelong Grammar School, I’ve wanted to be a role model not just at School but in public too,” he said. Paddy joins past students Devon Smith (A’11), Billie Smedts (FB’10), Sam Lloyd (Cu’08) and Easton Wood (Cu’07) on AFL lists in 2015.
“It’s like tenpin bowling when he crashes packs.” Mick Ablett, AFL
“He is a big, imposing, aggressive key forward with a first rate character and work rate. He is 194cm tall, which is one centimetre taller than Nick Riewoldt and Jarryd Roughead. He takes big pack marks and he shows great leadership.” Ameet Bains, St Kilda
“Paddy McCartin is as good as (Jarryd) Roughead was at TAC Cup level, if not better.” Michael Turner, Geelong Falcons
LIGHT BLUE - GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL
25
SECTION 02 — SCHOOL
.
↓