Tributes honour 'a real good bloke'
Teammates have hailed the tributes program to the late John McCarthy.
Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas confirmed that McCarthy’s number 35 guernsey and locker would be retired for 2013, in addition to a tribute match at the Power’s first home game of the year.
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The club will also name an award in McCarthy’s honour from its 2013 best and fairest awards night to recognise a player for his off-field contributions, while the #35 jumper will be allocated in future to a player who personifies McCarthy’s values and attributes.
“These have been in development for some weeks in consultation with our welfare committee, players, coaches and the McCarthy family,” said Thomas.
“[The award will] honour a player for their off-field contributions, which John was famous for here at the club.
“It’s was absolutely critical we got these things right.
“These things have been really well considered, we felt these things were an appropriate level for John and for both clubs.”
Brad Ebert was one of McCarthy’s closest friends at the club and said it was important for the club to recognise him appropriately, saying the team would 'play with him' as asked by John's mother Kath McCarthy at the funeral.
“Obviously it’s been a real tough time for all of us and to put these processes in place - it's been good to know you’re honouring him in this way,” said Ebert.
“We’re not going to play the whole season in honour of him or anything like that, just the first [home] game.
“Cath [McCarthy] touched on it at the funeral when she said that we’re playing with John’s spirit, rather than just playing for him.
“Straight away when he came to the club he was real approachable, really easy to get along with… caring and always had time for everyone.
“He was just a real good bloke."