Four years on from his breakout campaign as a third tall in the Giants forward line, Cameron McCarthy has struggled to live up to high expectations. The 2019 campaign was an improvement, lifting his disposal, mark and goal output. However, McCarthy continues to struggle with the defensive side of the game, noticeably declining in tackles. Coach Justin Longmuir has touted McCarthy as a player capable of wing minutes. Whether that eventuates will be to the reader's discretion, though his history shows he lacks the strength in the midfield clinches shown by Jake Stringer. Having never shown a propensity to generate large fantasy scores, expectations should remain low. Watchlist candidate.
The low-rate McCarthy
Four years on from his breakout campaign as a third tall in the Giants forward line, Cameron McCarthy has struggled to live up to high expectations. The 2019 campaign was an improvement, lifting his disposal, mark and goal output. However, McCarthy continues to struggle with the defensive side of the game, noticeably declining in tackles. Coach Justin Longmuir has touted McCarthy as a player capable of wing minutes. Whether that eventuates will be to the reader's discretion, though his history shows he lacks the strength in the midfield clinches shown by Jake Stringer. Having never shown a propensity to generate large fantasy scores, expectations should remain low. Watchlist candidate.
Salute to the quiet McCarthy
Since moving across from the Giants, Cam McCarthy’s impact hasn’t reached the next gear that the Dockers hoped for. While he has laced up on the majority of available occasions with 36 appearances over the last two seasons, consistency was the major issue. 2018 saw McCarthy pump out five scores of 74+, but also a deplorable six games of 40 or less, excluding his injury-affected 14 against Port Adelaide in round 17. McCarthy will have to battle with Matt Taberner and Brennan Cox for the third tall forward spot with new recruits filling the attacking spine. If he could only manage 17 games last season without those names in the squad, then all indications point to an uphill battle for this key forward. Talent alone doesn’t warrant a draft selection, so we’re better off passing on McCarthy altogether.
McCarthy still not great
In the absence of anyone better, the opposition's best defender went to Cameron McCarthy in every game for Fremantle last year, and he managed only six multiple-goal games in 19. He was relieved of CHF duties late in the year when Brennan Cox arrived, and did slightly better as third tall. Going into his fifth year in the system, McCarthy still scores like a first-year colt. He is much better suited away from the spine, and assuming that the likes of Cox and Shane Kersten play their role, he can have an easier time of it away from the pressure to allow him to be himself. He is not worth drafting, nevertheless.
