Former Fremantle and GWS Giants player Cam McCarthy has died aged 29 in Perth.
The talented forward was discovered by emergency services on Thursday night.
A statement from WA Police said: “Emergency services were called to an address in Lake Coogee at approximately 6.15pm yesterday, Thursday 9 May 2024.
“On arrival, it was confirmed that a 29-year-old man was deceased.
“The death is being treated as non-suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
McCarthy scored 99 goals in 70 AFL games after being selected by the Giants with pick 14 in the 2013 draft.
The West Australian requested a trade to Fremantle in his second season, citing homesickness, but the Giants initially rejected the Dockers’ trade offer.
In early 2016, the Sydney club gave him an indefinite leave of absence to deal with “personal issues” and he returned to Perth.
At the time, Giants chief executive David Matthews said McCarthy “is struggling with the day-to-day demands of being an AFL footballer”.
The striker was eventually traded to Fremantle, the club he supported as a boy, and ended up playing 49 games in purple. He was the Dockers’ number one goalkeeper in 2017.
Newsletter Promotion Post
In 2020, Fremantle told him he would not be offered another contract and he left the club shortly afterwards. Earlier that year, he was diagnosed with epilepsy after collapsing during mid-season training.
He is the third former Fremantle player to die recently, following Shane Yarran in 2018 and Harley Balic in 2022.
In Australia, the Crisis Support Service Lifeline is 13 11 14. 13YARN on 13 92 76.
