Currently in his fourth year of study, McCarthy believes he can ‘just’ see light at the end of the tunnel and hopes to use what he’s learnt at the end of his football career, possibly as a lawyer.
“Football is the main priority but it is still good to have something away from footy to take your mind off it a bit,” McCarthy told afl.com.au.
“It keeps you busy when you have spare time away from training. It’s good to be not sitting around the house doing nothing.”
As for his on-field aspirations, McCarthy hasn’t set specific goals regarding the number of matches he’d like to play this season, content in the knowledge that if he continues improving, the games will come.
His main focus is to get stronger. With the help of club fitness co-ordinator Loris Bertolacci, McCarthy was put on a weights program in the pre-season to try to get bigger, put on weight and get stronger.
“We did probably three of four weight sessions a week over the pre-season. I’ve put on a couple of kilograms and am a fair bit stronger but still have got a bit to go.”
“I’m just trying to get better at the things I’m bad at, and if that happens, I probably will play more games.”
After making his senior debut in round one against the Bulldogs, McCarthy had to wait until round eight for his second.
In that match he kicked two goals against the Swans and is happy playing in the forward line.
McCarthy described Geelong’s first quarter against Sydney – where the Swans kicked five goals to one – as ‘just shocking’ and was at a loss to explain why.
The Cats have run Brisbane, West Coast and Sydney close during the last three weeks but allowed all three teams a short period of dominance that ultimately cost them the four points.
“I thought the feeling in the rooms (prior to the match against Sydney) was good, I can’t really explain it. I suppose if I could we wouldn’t do it. After that we played the way we should but it has been costing us those little lapses.”
“Probably with a lot of younger blokes, consistency is probably one thing younger teams don’t often have.”
The 21-year old has already tasted success as part of Geelong’s VFL premiership side in 2002.
