AFL star Cam McCarthy has died at the age of 29, throwing the footy world into mourning.
Emergency services, including paramedics and police, were called to Lake Coogee in the southern part of Perth around 6.15 pm on Thursday. On arrival, they found a 29-year-old man dead.
‘Upon arrival, it was confirmed a 29-year-old male was deceased,’ police said.
‘The death is being treated as non-suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner.’
McCarthy’s battle with mental illness was heavily documented through his career.
Former AFL star Cam McCarthy has died at the age of 29 in Perth under non-suspicious circumstances
The sudden death of McCarthy at such a young age has left footy fans shocked and in mourning
McCarthy famously walked out on the GWS Giants and sat out a season before continuing his career at Fremantle
McCarthy sent a scare through the Dockers squad in 2020 when he collapsed at training.
He was later diagnosed with epilepsy and although he was medically cleared to play, his contract was not renewed by the club at the end of the 2020 season.
He returned to South Fremantle in the WAFL for two seasons but would only go on to play 10 further matches in that time.
In 2023 McCarthy has had his licence suspended for 10 months after he was caught driving with over eight times the legal alcohol limit in his system.
The 28-year-old registered a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading of 0.414 when stopped by Western Australia Police near Harvey, approximately 140 kilometres south of Perth.
McCarthy was drafted by the Giants with pick No.14 in 2013 and managed one game in his debut season.
He played a total of 49 games for the Fremantle Dockers and 21 games for the Greater Western Sydney Giants, having been drafted from South Fremantle as the 14th pick in 2013.
He made headlines when he left the Giants at the end of the 2015 season, sitting out the last year of his contract before being traded to Fremantle.
McCarthy was granted indefinite leave by the Giants in January, 2016 to be closer to family as he battled a mental health condition.
That came after he requested a trade to Fremantle during the 2015 trade period which was denied by the Giants.
He went on to have a breakthrough season that year, kicking 35 goals, but did not play a single game in 2016.
Cam McCarthy and his then-girlfriend Grace Collopy prior to his tragic death
McCarthy would go on to play 49 games for the Dockers after finally getting traded
McCarthy’s time at Fremantle ended toward the end of the 2020 season, when he was told he would not have his contract extended ‘
‘We have been in discussions with Cam and his management about his future at Fremantle,’ Dockers general manager Peter Bell said at the time.
‘We believed it was only fair to advise Cam as soon as possible that it was unlikely that he would have his contract extended beyond the end of the 2020 season.
‘On that basis, Cam and his management discussed the situation with his family, and subsequently informed the club that he would like to seek an early release from his contract, which was mutually agreed to by all parties.’
GWS had hoped that McCarthy would return to the club after his medical leave
The sudden death of the former GWS and Fremantle star has shocked footy fans.
‘Not going to lie, this news has been really hard to take … Can’t imagine what his family and friends are going though, one posted.
‘Just horrendous news about Cam McCarthy, thinking about everyone around him and effected by this news,’ added another.
‘In disbelief right now, this is unbelievably sad to see. Talented footballer, I still vividly remember his 1st goal in Round 23 2014. 29 is way too young,’ another stunned fan posted.
McCarthy is the fourth Fremantle player to die young in the last eight years.
Shane Yarran was found dead in his Seville Grove home in 2018 after he died by suicide when he was just 28.
Harley Balic died in January 2022, days after his 25th birthday, after documented battles with drug addiction, anxiety and other mental health issues.
And Colin Sylvia was killed in a car accident at the age of just 32 in 2018.
The Dockers will Iwill wear black armbands tonight in their match against Sydney at Perth Stadium.
More to come…
Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 22 4636
