AFL’s McCarthy loved family, say teammates

AFL player John McCarthy was an extraordinary human being who loved his family and teammates, his mother says.

Catherine McCarthy has delivered a eulogy to her 22-year-old son at a packed funeral in Sorrento, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, where McCarthy grew up.

“He loved his family, he loved his teammates,” Mrs McCarthy said.

“Our Johnny boy is one of the most extraordinary human beings we have been privileged to know.”

She said the McCarthy family, including her husband Shane, daughters Frances, Jane and Elizabeth and son Matthew, had no regrets.

“We could not have loved him more,” she said.

The Port Adelaide player died last week on an end-of-season trip in Las Vegas when he fell from a building after a night out.

Teammates from Port and players from his previous AFL club Collingwood are among more than 1000 people farewelling McCarthy in Sorrento.

Mrs McCarthy said her son “generated love”.

“He was a lover,” Mrs McCarthy said, adding she would like to say he was not a fighter, but anybody who crossed one of John’s own was in trouble.

“His extended family were among his best friends.

“He just generated love.”

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