Doubts hang over Paddy McCartin’s AFL career after the luckless St Kilda forward was ruled out for the season and placed on the long-term injury list.

McCartin has not played a regular season AFL 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.

“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.”

McCartin’s horror run with concussion and injury has limited him to just 35 senior appearances since he was the No.1 pick at the 2014 draft.

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