In an indication of Tom McCartin’s rapid rise, the young Sydney Swans forward had played 34 AFL games by the end of his teenage years – and that was despite being the youngest player in the league in his debut 2018 season. The Geelong Falcons product has a brilliant marking ability and presents a tall target, at 193cm, inside 50. Former senior coach John Longmire developed the now 25-year-old into a key defender where he has been crucial to the backline. 2024 proved to be a comeback season for McCartin after injury in 2023. Last season he averaged 2.5 intercept marks and 6.8 spoils.
