'Lost my identity': Paddy McCartin's heartbreaking concussion revelation

Paddy McCartin has opened up about the crippling effects of concussion that have ruled the former No.1 draft pick out for the rest of the season.

Doubts hang over his AFL career after St Kilda put their luckless forward on the long-term injury list.

McCartin has not played a home-and-away game this year after he was concussed in a pre-season game against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.

The 23-year-old, who wears a protective helmet, is believed to have been concussed eight times since 2014 and is still struggling to shake off symptoms from the head knock he sustained in March.

“It's been really tough,” he told Channel 7 on Sunday.

“That's something that's tough for me, telling people how I'm going. It's been really difficult.

“I've sort of lost my identity as a footballer a little but also as a person, too. It's been hard.

“Just the little things that I probably took for granted before, I can't do (now).

“Whether it's going to the supermarket or going to a cafe with my girlfriend, driving a car or anything like that.

“It's been hard but hopefully I can get better.”

McCartin is suffering from light and sound sensitivity, wakes up in pools of sweat and has headaches that require drugs to help him sleep.

He has better days as his recovery drags on, but his worst days are just as bad as they have ever been.

Despite all of that he isn't considering retirement, but neither is he thinking about getting back on the field.

"I haven't thought about that much but playing is going to be a by-product of me feeling better again,” he said.

McCartin's horror run with concussion and injury has limited him to just 35 senior appearances since he was drafted in 2014.

His move to the long-term injury list will allow the Saints to participate in Monday's mid-season draft.

"Paddy's symptoms are slowly improving but while they still linger, we are unable to put a time frame on his return," Saints football chief Simon Lethlean said in a statement released on Sunday.

"Given he isn't able to train at a high intensity at present, being able to complete the necessary training to return to playing matches before the end of the season now appears unlikely.

"Our focus first and foremost is on Paddy's health and well-being and ensuring that he becomes symptom free.

"Once that occurs we will be in a position to put a more accurate time frame on his return to training this year and his program and plans for the 2019-20 pre-season."

with AAP