John McCarthy (Australian rules footballer, born 1989)

Family

McCarthy's father Shane and brother Matthew both played football with Geelong. He also had two uncles, Bernie and Gavan, who played for North Melbourne. His grandfather Alan Olle and great uncle Jack Coffey played for .

Education

McCarthy attended The Peninsula School in Mount Eliza, Victoria, graduating in 2007.

Playing career

Drafted by Collingwood with the 31st selection in the 2007 National Draft, McCarthy was a midfielder. He made his debut late in the 2008 AFL season and held his position for the last six matches of the year, including two finals. He struggled to maintain his place in the Collingwood side in 2009 and 2010, playing only two games in each season due to poor form and injuries. In each year, however, he returned to the senior side at the end of the year, playing in the qualifying final in 2009 and being named as an emergency for the 2010 AFL Grand Final. He played eight games in 2011; however, he was not selected during the finals, being delisted by Collingwood at the end of the 2011 season.

After training with Richmond, he was drafted by Port Adelaide in the 2012 pre-season draft, who had the selection before Richmond. He cemented his place in the Port side for the 2012 season, missing only one game for the year.

Death

McCarthy died on 9 September 2012, after falling 9 m from a rooftop at the Flamingo Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The incident occurred at the start of a post-season holiday for McCarthy and other Port Adelaide players. They had arrived in the U.S. resort city only a few hours before the incident. After reviewing evidence, police said that McCarthy had attempted to jump off the roof onto a palm tree, but slipped and fell to the ground.

Following his passing, Port Adelaide retired the #35 jersey until the 2nd of December, 2024.

References

References

1. Gleeson, Michael. (11 September 2012). "Pies players mourn loss of 'J-Mac'". The Age.
2. (10 September 2012). "Statement: John McCarthy". Port Adelaide Football Club.
3. Hulett, Nick. (27 November 2007). ""A phenomenal feeling": McCarthy". Collingwood Football Club.
4. Rucci, Michelangelo. (11 May 2012). "Footy runs in family for John McCarthy". The Daily Telegraph.
5. (10 September 2012). "Sorrento in shock over death of footballer John McCarthy". Mornington Peninsula Leader.
6. "John McCarthy". Collingwood Football Club.
7. Landsberger, Sam. (10 September 2012). "John McCarthy's travels from Collingwood to Port Adelaide". [[Herald Sun]].
8. "Collingwood list changes: four delisted Magpies". Collingwood Football Club.
9. Paton, Al. (13 December 2011). "Port Adelaide grabs former Collingwood midfielder John McCarthy in pre-season draft". Herald Sun.
10. (10 September 2012). "AFL footballer John McCarthy dies in Las Vegas". The Sydney Morning Herald.
11. Walsh, Courtney. (11 September 2012). "No suspicious circumstances in John McCarthy's Las Vegas death, says coroner". The Australian.
12. Drill, Stephen. (12 September 2012). "Drugs 'freely available' before Port Adelaide footballer John McCarthy fell to death". Herald Sun.
13. (10 December 2012). "Port Adelaide will retire John McCarthy's number this season and set up an award and charity". [[Fox Sports (Australia).