External links
- Tom McCarthy's profile on the official website of the West Coast Eagles
- Tom McCarthy at AustralianFootball.com
- Tom McCarthy's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Tom McCarthy's WAFL playing statistics at WAFLFootyFacts.net
| Tom McCarthy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Thomas McCarthy [1] | ||
| Nickname(s) | T-Mac [2] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 July 2000 | ||
| Original team(s) | Dingley (SFNL)/Richmond (VFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 1, 2025 mid-season rookie draft | ||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | West Coast | ||
| Number | 45 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2025– | West Coast | 10 (0) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2025 season. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Tom McCarthy (born 12 July 2000) is an Australian rules footballer who currently plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). [3]
McCarthy grew up supporting Melbourne and idolised Jayden Hunt (who later became his teammate at West Coast). [4] He played junior football with the Cheltenham Panthers in the South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL). [5] [6]
After leaving Cheltenham, McCarthy joined Old Mentonians in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) under-19s competition in 2018, playing two senior matches during the season. [7] [8] He played a further twelve senior games in 2019, and – following the cancellation of the 2020 season – McCarthy continued to play at the senior level, kicking ten goals in eleven senior games during the curtailed 2021 season. [9]
McCarthy won the Old Mentonians senior best and fairest award in 2022. [10] He left the club – which went into recess several months later – and joined Highett in the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL). [11] He came second in Highett's best and fairest count for the 2023 season by 1 vote. [12]
In 2024, McCarthy joined Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL). [13] He made his VFL debut against Coburg in round 6. [14] [15] At the end of the 2024 SFNL season, McCarthy left Highett to join Dingley. [16] [17] He also played one game for Banks in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) Premier Division reserves competition in October 2024, earning a best on ground nomination. [18] [19]
In addition to football, McCarthy played for the Cheltenham Park Cricket Club in the South East Cricket Association (SECA). [20]
In May 2025, it was reported that McCarthy would be signed by West Coast in the 2025 AFL mid-season rookie draft. [21] [22] After playing against North Melbourne, McCarthy was rested by Richmond for the following match to avoid the possibility of an injury in the VFL prior to the draft. [23] [24]
McCarthy was selected by West Coast as the number-one pick in the mid-season rookie draft on 28 May 2025. [25] [26] He played two games for the club's reserves team in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) before being named for his AFL debut in round 14 against Carlton at Optus Stadium. [27] McCarthy starred in his first AFL game with 31 disposals in a 34-point defeat, recording the most disposals of any West Coast player in the 2025 season and the most by a West Coast player on debut ever. [28] [29]
