AFL community mourns McCarthy

AFL NSW/ACT would like to extend their condolences to the family, friends and teammates of John McCarthy following his tragic death.

The entire AFL community shares their grief and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

AFL NSW/ACT General Manager Tom Harley expressed his sympathy to McCarthy’s family.

“John was a spirited, talented and out going young man. You could not meet a more beautiful family and my deepest condolences go to his father Shane and mother Cath, his sisters Frances, Elizabeth and Jane and his brother Matt,” he said

“This is a tragedy and John will be sorely missed by many.”

The AFL  expressed its shock and sadness about the tragic death overseas of Port Adelaide player John McCarthy.

AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou extended the condolences of the entire AFL industry to John’s family and partner, and also to his friends and teammates.

“This is a terrible tragedy for John’s loved ones and our deepest sympathies go out to them,” Mr Demetriou said.

‘It is a very sad day for the Port Adelaide Football Club and the rest of the AFL industry to lose a young man in the prime of his life.

“The AFL and the AFLPA are providing appropriate support for John’s family, the Club and also his teammates.

“Port Adelaide are a proud football club and no doubt their many supporters will rally around as they deal with their grief.”

Mr Demetriou said that US authorities were still investigating the circumstances of John’s death and therefore it would not be appropriate or helpful to comment further on what has happened.

“Out of respect for John’s family and friends I would ask people to refrain from speculating and to let US investigators do their job,” Mr Demetriou said. “The public interest in this story is understandable but I would also ask the media to respect the privacy of those involved as they come to terms with this tragic news.”

John McCarthy played 21 games at Port Adelaide in his debut season with the club this year and a further 18 previously with Collingwood after being drafted in 2007.

Port Adelaide issued the following statement on Monday afternoon:

It is with great sadness that the Port Adelaide Football Club today confirms the tragic death of player John McCarthy.
 
John, 22, was holidaying in the United States with 10 team mates. The club was informed by US authorities in Las Vegas this morning that John had died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall from a building. The circumstances of the tragedy are still being investigated.
 
Port Adelaide extends its deepest sympathies to John’s family, girlfriend and team mates, and is providing whatever support necessary to help them through this tragedy.
 
The other players in the travelling party are Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent, Alipate Carlile, Brett Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Logan, Andrew Moore, Paul Stewart, Jackson Trengove and Justin Westhoff. These players are all safe and accounted for and arrangements are being made for them to return to Australia.
 
Port Adelaide general manager (football) Peter Rohde is travelling to Las Vegas to provide support for the players and to work with the US authorities and Australian consular officials.
 
John McCarthy played 21 games in his debut season with Port Adelaide this year after joining the club from Collingwood in the pre-season draft last year. He was drafted by Collingwood in 2007, having played 18 games for the Magpies from 2008-2011.
 
Port Adelaide chief executive officer Keith Thomas said the death was an enormous shock and a terrible tragedy for John’s family, partner and friends as well as for the club and the wider Port Adelaide community.
 
“John embraced Port Adelaide and we embraced him, and we are deeply shocked and saddened by his passing,” Thomas said.
 
“He was a very popular player among his team mates and our supporters. John played 21 of 22 games this season for Port Adelaide and was a valued member of our team who quickly won the respect and friendship of us all.
 
“He will be greatly missed by everyone at Port Adelaide and we extend our sympathies to his parents Shane and Cath, his brother Matt, sisters Frances, Elizabeth and Jane, his girlfriend Dani and his extended family and network of friends.”
 
The Port Adelaide Football Club is unable to comment further on the circumstances around John’s death while an investigation is underway.
 
We request that the media respect the privacy of John’s family, friends, team mates and club staff as they grieve during this difficult period.