ST KILDA forward Paddy McCartin's season could be over as he continues to battle the effects of concussion, Saints coach Alan Richardson fears.
And when the 22-year-old finally returns, the Saints will seriously consider recasting him as a defender to protect him from the crushing packs and to take advantage of his ability to read the play.
McCartin – the No.1 pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft – has suffered eight bouts of concussion in that time, the most recent of which followed a seemingly innocuous aerial contest in the Saints' final JLT Community Series game against the Western Bulldogs at Ballarat on March 10.
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Seven weeks later, McCartin's playing future is no clearer.
"I don't know whether Paddy will play again this year," Richardson told Channel Seven's Talking Footy on Monday night.
Shown footage of McCartin's pre-season mishap, Richardson observed that the young forward's technique had been "clumsy".
"He's a very courageous boy. He's one of those blokes who you've almost got to protect from himself, given his commitment to his team," Richardson said.
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"So when it is that he's right, and there's still a fair bit of water to go under the bridge there – he still has symptoms – then we'll seriously look at playing Paddy back. Just to change not having to go back with the flight of the ball.
"(Reading the play) is a real strength of Paddy's. If you ask any of our defenders, 'Who's the hardest to play on in match (simulation)?' … if the ball's dirty Paddy reads it off the boot a bit quicker, a bit like what I presume (West Coast star) Jeremy McGovern must do.
"We think he has some attributes to play back. We would seriously look at that."
Richardson was more optimistic about regaining the services of captain Jarryn Geary, who underwent surgery to his right thigh, which was severely corked in the round five win over Melbourne.
"He was in at the club today. He got out of hospital yesterday. He was walking relatively normal," he said.
"He's got a massive scar that needs to heal. It was a really significant injury. We're all thankful that there's been a good outcome.
"We're now relatively optimistic, according to the surgeon, that after a period of just letting it heal and then retraining and just seeing how it responds, that he's a chance to be coming back and playing footy."
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There is also a better outlook for former Sydney star Dan Hannebery, who is yet to play a game for the Saints after suffering hamstring and calf injuries. Richardson said the experienced midfielder had made a breakthrough in his recovery.
"I'm reluctant to be overly optimistic but for the first time he's taken some really positive steps," he said.
