Geelong great Joel Selwood still laments that his former club lost the prodigious talent of Lincoln McCarthy.
McCarthy was traded from Geelong to Brisbane at the end of 2018 — basically for nothing — after a wretched run with injury during his first seven years in the AFL.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Joel Selwood laments loss of former Geelong forward Lincoln McCarthy.
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Since making the move north, the crafty goalkicker has become a picture of consistency, rarely missing a game and establishing himself as one of the best and most underrated small forwards in the competition.
The 30-year-old was at it again during the Lions’ season opener against Carlton, kicking two classy goals in the first half.
“(He played) 29 games in seven seasons at the Cats — 115 of (a possible) 119 at Brisbane. Enormous transformation,” Seven commentator Alister Nicholson said after McCarthy slotted through his second.
Selwood, who played with McCarthy at the Cats between 2012 and 2018, joked that it still hurts him to see his old teammate dominating for another side.
“Al, it breaks my heart — still. Don’t do that to me,” said Selwood, who, in truth, was clearly happy for the former Cats player.
Nicholson added: “He always had the talent, didn’t he? Such a cruel game it can be with injury”.
Three-time Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge moved to the Lions at the same time as McCarthy and played two years with him before retiring.
“You can understand why the Geelong boys were flat — what he brings; good bloke, good player, what he does selflessly out on the football field. They’ve loved having him up here,” Hodge said on commentary of McCarthy.
Noting Geelong’s uncanny ability to get the best out of recruits from rival clubs, James Brayshaw added: “Also, for the one you lost, you’ve picked up about 10, so I don’t reckon you can complain, Sel, about where you sit on the ledger”.
“Sorry, did I sound like a sook, did I?” Selwood said, with a laugh.
McCarthy’s brilliance helped the Lions blast their way to a 31-point half time lead.
The Blues were shellshocked by the home side at a sold-out Gabba, who kicked seven of the first eight goals, and nine of the first 11, before the visitors began to peg them back before half time.
But a resurgent third quarter from Carlton breathed life back into the preliminary final rematch from last year.
They kicked eight goals in a row to hit the front half way through the third quarter in a stunning turnaround, before going on to win a one-point thriller.
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