Adam McCarthy

Recruited from Scoresby in Melbourne’s east, Adam McCarthy was a tall midfielder who progressed through the traditional pathway, notably winning a best and fairest award with North Melbourne's under-19s. Despite this early promise, he found it difficult to cement a regular senior spot in a Kangaroos side that was rapidly building toward a premiership dynasty, managing just 15 games across three seasons. Seeking greater opportunity, McCarthy was traded to Fitzroy at the end of 1994 in exchange for Matthew Armstrong, a move that saw him leave a rising powerhouse for a club in its final, tumultuous years. He enjoyed his most consistent football with the Lions in 1995, utilizing his 185cm frame to compete in the midfield and on the flanks, but drifted out of the side midway through the club's terminal 1996 campaign. His career is often remembered for the "sliding doors" nature of his trade, as Armstrong went on to become a premiership player at North while McCarthy battled away in the Lions' dying days.