By BRAD McGRATH
PORT Adelaide player John McCarthy has died on an end of season trip.
The former Sorrento and Dandenong Stingrays midfielder is believed to have fallen off a balcony at a Las Vegas hotel while holidaying with teammates at the gambling mecca.
McCarthy, 22, left for Las Vegas with a group of seven on Saturday after attending the club’s presentation on Friday night.
Port Adelaide officially named the former Collingwood player late this afternoon, despite social media websites going viral with the news from lunchtime yesterday.
The news has stunned the peninsula and sent shockwaves through the greater footballing community with the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League expressing their condolences on their official Facebook page. ‘‘The Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL) is deeply saddened to learn about the news of Port Adelaide footballer John McCarthy’s passing while overseas,’’ the page said.
‘‘The loss of a family member, friend and team mate is always difficult and we are reminded of how fragile life can be and ask people within the local football community take a moment and reflect on the time spent with John playing football at the Sorrento Football Club.
‘‘We extended our sincere sympathies to the McCarthy family who has been long supporters of football in our community and our condolences to his team mates, coaches and supporters of the Sorrento Football Club.’’
Sorrento, which is due to play in the Nepean League grand final against Dromana on Saturday, was also in shock yesterday with the news not taking long to filter through to club officials.
McCarthy’s father, Shane, is a lawyer in Rye and well-known personality in MPNFL circles, playing many games for the Sharks as well as three games for Geelong in the early 1970s.
His brother Matthew played 17 games at the Cats in 2003-04.
A trainer at Sorrento, John Austin and his wife Bet were at the David McFarlane Reserve earlier today when they heard the news McCarthy had died.
‘‘I know his Dad, it is such a terrible thing to have happened,’’ Mrs Austin said.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said the club was devastated with players and officials receiving grief counselling.
‘‘He was a fantastic young fella, he was well liked, he was a terrific young fella,’’ he said.
‘‘He came into the football club looking to reignite his career and he played 21 of 22 games which was fantastic, we had great hopes for him.
‘‘It is so disappointing on a football front but more on a personal front.’’
Media gathered outside the Portsea home of McCarthy’s parents but were asked to leave by a young man who said the family would not be coming out of the house to make a statement.
McCarthy played 39 senior games in the AFL, beginning his career with Collingwood, after being picked with pick 31 in the 2007 National Draft.
He was an emergency for the Magpies’ 2010 premiership team but was delisted at the end of last season.
McCarthy played 21 games for the Power after they picked him up in the pre-season draft.
