As best I can tell, Tom McCartin does not yet have his own thread. Given the building hype, it's time to start one.

Tom is the younger brother of Patrick (#1 draft pick 2014 national draft) and Charles (middle brother, plays footy but not sure where - never drafted). Tom was born 30 December 1999 (possibly the last AFL listed player to be born in the 1900s??). The Swans drafted Tom with pick #33 2017 national draft. Here are links to a couple of profiles published about Tom before the draft:

Tom McCartin – AFL Draft Central
2017 AFL Draft prospects: Tom McCartin | Zero Hanger

The consensus pre-draft was that Tom McCartin was an agile, strong-marking KPF prospect with a big tank, good vertical jump and good below his knees. The knocks on him were his goal kicking (kicked 9.18 from 11 games) and his consistency. His bottom aged pre-draft year was blighted by injury so he missed the 2016 season and 2017 pre-season. It was also noted that he grew 11 centimetres (from 182 to 193cm) in the nearly two years pre-draft and he was still adjusting to having such a different body.

Given that he is a KPF and the promise he has shown, and noting his late birth date (a favourite route of Kinnear Beatson to pick up a draft bargain), we were all pleased and excited to pick him up at #33 because it's pretty hard to get a good KPF prospect by that stage of the draft and hopes blossomed that we may have picked up a bargain.

Anyway, the story continues. He has joined the club, is due to be studying Year 12 this year (where? how?) but is already making a real impression in pre-season training.

First, our own O'Reilly Boy drops in on pre-season training and makes the following observation:

"The big surprise for me was McCartin, who looked really at home. Rampe was playing on him, but McCartin looked composed and confident, running to space and demanding the ball. May challenge for a spot. Stoddard looked like he was still finding his place, but was getting plenty of encouragement and was looking for opportunities to get involved."

Then Adam Curley from afl.com.au nominates as Tom as the new recruit making the (equal) biggest impression in pre-season so far:

McCartin has an exceptional pair of hands and has impressed the coaches with his aggression at the ball and his bodywork for such a young player.

Now, Dane Rampe has come out and said:

"I really like the way Tommy has gone about it.

"I don't know if it's the benefits of growing up with older brothers but he looks ready made.

"That's probably a little bit too much pressure to put on him but he looks comfortable with the physicality of it, and I think that's a big tick for someone coming in so young.

"Obviously it's going to be a pretty hard team to break into but we've really liked what we've seen so far."


And there is talk he may be selected for AFLX.

Let it be said, the bandwagon has started rolling. There's room for plenty aboard.