‘Prodigious talent’: Former Dockers and Giants player Cam McCarthy dies
Former Fremantle and Giants player Cam McCarthy has died at the age of 29.
A WA Police statement on Friday said: “About 6.15pm yesterday, Thursday 9 May 2024, emergency services were called to an address in Lake Coogee. Upon arrival, it was confirmed a 29-year-old male was deceased.
Former Fremantle and GWS player Cam McCarthy.
“The death is being treated as non-suspicious.
“A report will be prepared for the coroner.”
The news will rock the football world with McCarthy the third former Docker to die before reaching the age of 30 in the past six years.
The AFL and the AFL Players’ Association are aware of McCarthy’s death.
Drafted at pick No.14 in the 2013 national draft, the West Australian played 70 matches and kicked 99 goals before being delisted by the Dockers at the end of 2020.
He spent two seasons at the Giants before leaving the club ahead of the 2016 season after 21 games due to homesickness, having attempted to be traded back to Fremantle in the previous trade period.
He stood out of football in 2016 before being traded to the Dockers at the end of that season, and he played 49 games as a key forward for the club in the next four years. He had grown up a Dockers fan and was born on the day of the club’s first AFL game.
His time at the Dockers ended just before the completion of the 2020 season, when he was told he would not have his contract extended.
McCarthy was diagnosed with epilepsy after collapsing at Dockers’ training midway through that season.
The talented forward won the Dockers’ goalkicking in 2017 with 25 goals and showed his talent as a marking forward who was an accurate kick.
However, he struggled to meet the demands of a professional career in the AFL, and played two more seasons with South Fremantle in the WAFL, having been part of the club’s zone as a South Coogee junior.
He had lost his licence for 10 months in June last year, when police charged him with driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.414.
Cam McCarthy in his AFL draft year.
South Fremantle said in a statement that they were deeply saddened by his death and offered condolences to his family.
“Cam is remembered as not just a prodigious football talent but as a popular, compassionate and caring person who had time for everyone at our club. He will be dearly missed.”
McCarthy is the third player from the Dockers 2017 list to have died since leaving the club. Shane Yarran died in 2018 and Harley Balic in 2022.
Former Melbourne and Dockers player Colin Sylvia also died in a car accident in 2018 having been with the club in 2014 after joining as a free agent. Sylvia retired from the AFL early in 2015.
More to come
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