If you’d asked Brisbane Lions fans about Lincoln McCarthy before September 2018 most would have replied “Lincoln who?”
After all, he was a 24-year-old South Australian drafted to Geelong at #66 in 2011 who had played 29 games in seven years.
But on Saturday afternoon McCarthy will be a massive favorite with the same Lions fans as he shares the milestone spotlight with Ryan Lester in Q-Clash #20 against the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium.
It’s not a big milestone. While Lester plays his 150th game for the club to qualify for life membership McCarthy will notch his 50th game as a Brisbane Lion.
But it will be a milestone that will mean the world to the now 27-year-old because for a long time it seemed like he was more likely to walk around Australia in bare feet.
And if he’s feeling a little cheeky he might remind long-time good mate Lachie Neale that he’s beaten the boom recruit and 2020 Brownlow Medallist to 50 Brisbane games.
Neale had played 49 Brisbane games in a row until struck down by an ankle injury in Round 6.
McCarthy has made an extraordinary transformation from injury-prone youngster with the Cats to reliable and inspirational senior figure with the Lions.
The numbers don’t lie. From his debut at Geelong in 2012 McCarthy played 29 of a possible 156 games. He missed two full seasons with foot problems and also had hip, hamstring, groin, back and thigh troubles.
Yet since moving to Brisbane he’s played 49 of a possible 51. And one of the two games he missed was through suspension. A minor thigh problem cost him the other game.
McCarthy first came to the attention of most Lions fans on 21 September 2018 when he asked to be traded to Brisbane.
It wasn’t like Geelong wanted him out. Despite his shocking injury run the club had not lost faith in the boy from Bordertown, SA, and had offered him a new contract.
Coach Chris Scott said he had even contemplated playing McCarthy in the 2018 elimination final after a good finish to the VFL season despite the fact he’d only played in the AFL in Round 11 and Round 13 that year.
The 2012 AFL Guide said of McCarthy in his first player penpix: “A small forward who could be another late draft gem. Has genuine pace, is a quality finisher and is good overhead for his size. Also represented SA in cricket at Under 17 level and was an excellent basketballer.”
So highly was McCarthy regarded at Geelong that he was allocated jumper #6 that had been worn by retiring 2007-09-11 premiership player Brad Ottens.
All was tracking well when he debuted at 18 in Round 10 of his first season. But it was 1428 days, or a month short of four years, before he reached 10 games.
A classy 19-game season in 2016, including two finals, reminded the football world of his untapped potential, but when more injuries restricted him to three games in 2017 and two in 2018 he’d had enough.
Declaring his wish to head north, McCarthy said: “After a few years of not being able to do what you want to do in a specific environment, you can get a little bit burnt out. That comes with any role, in any job I think. It's only natural to review what's going on in your own sense.”
The cynics suggested cruelly at the time that the Lions, also looking to lure Neale from Fremantle, had targeted his good mate to help their cause. The advance steak knives, if you like.
But the Lions had remembered McCarthy’s junior potential and were taking him regardless. His move was the first deal completed on day one of the trade period when the Lions swapped picks #42 and #60 for McCarthy and picks #54 and #57.
It has only got better for the spring-heeled forward/midfielder in jumper #11. He kicked a career-best four goals in his Lions debut, bettered his seven-year Geelong possession total in 25 games and his seven-year Geelong goal total in 26 games.
So impressive has he been on and off the field he was added to the leadership group this year.
With a Lions win/loss record of 34-15 and a 57-21 career record, McCarthy is unbeaten in Q-Clash football heading into his fourth on Saturday.
Enjoying a little extra midfield time with Neale on the sideline, he will be key figure as the Lions look to improve on a 13-6 aggregate record against the Suns and a hot streak that has seen them win the last four meetings and six of the last seven.
Joe Daniher, Jaxon Prior and Deven Robertson of the Round 8 side are set for their Q-Clash debut as Dayne Zorko plays his 17th to possibly equal the record held by Suns veteran Jarrod Harbrow, who has been overlooked at selection since Round 5.
