ST KILDA has confirmed key forward Paddy McCartin will not play this weekend after suffering his sixth concussion since 2014 on Saturday.
The 21-year-old had his head over the ball at a contest at ground level during the first quarter of VFL affiliate Sandringham's clash with Coburg when he was struck in the head by an opponent's hip.
McCartin walked off the ground and took no further part in the match.
Saints coach Alan Richardson said McCartin would not feature at any level this week, but stressed the youngster's latest knock would have no long-term implications.
"Paddy would've played this week if he had have pulled up well but the reality is he's still a little bit off and so he won't play this week," Richardson told Fox Footy on Monday night.
"He's very likely to play the week after.
"Our medical staff, our experts, are telling us he's going to be fine. There's a fair bit of testing done in that space to make sure that they're giving players and coaches really good advice, and our advice is that Paddy will be fine."
McCartin suffered three separate concussions last year, the last of which came in round 15 against Gold Coast and forced him out for almost a month.
He has played 22 games for the Saints since debuting in round three, 2015.