Charlie McCartin, a 25-year-old emerging talent and middle brother of Swan Tom and former Swan and Saint Paddy, is turning heads in the AFL scouting community. Despite his late start, McCartin has been making waves in Victoria’s country footy scene. Twice in the past month, scouts from the Sydney Swans have observed his performances for Lorne, with prominent figures like Jarrad McVeigh and Kinnear Beatson in attendance.
McCartin’s strong performances in the Colac and District league have not gone unnoticed. His pedigree, given his well-known surname and brothers, and the fact that his team is coached by ex-Carlton player Ed Curnow, have kept him on the radar of several AFL clubs. St Kilda, with former Swans recruiter Simon Dalrymple, alongside Carlton and Geelong, have all shown interest in the 194-centimeter key defender.
Charlie’s journey has been unconventional. He once worked in recruiting for the Swans, scouting and coding game footage, and is now being scouted himself. His athleticism and skillset, particularly his ability to play well overhead and his precise kicking, are comparable to those of his younger brother Tom. Despite playing at a lower competitive level, his potential to transition to the AFL remains a topic of interest among recruiters.
Historically, players like Isaac Smith and Tom Stewart have made successful jumps from local leagues to the AFL, providing hope for McCartin’s prospects. Smith, for instance, moved from Redan in the Ballarat league to North Ballarat in the VFL, eventually being drafted by Hawthorn and winning four premierships. Stewart, after being overlooked initially, excelled in the Geelong Football League before being drafted by the Cats, emphasizing that talent can be found and nurtured outside traditional pathways.
Charlie McCartin’s story is a testament to perseverance and the unpredictability of sports careers. As scouts continue to monitor his progress, his journey could serve as an inspiration for many aspiring athletes playing in lower leagues. Whether he will make the leap to the AFL remains to be seen, but his current trajectory suggests that the best may still be yet to come for this late-blooming footballer.
