[ad_1]
Fremantle and Sydney the players hold hands and pause for a moment of silence in front of theirs AFL clash on Friday night to pay our respects Cam McCarthy, who died on Thursday only 29.
Paramedics found the former Fremantle and GWS forward unresponsive at a house believed to belong to his parents in Coogee Lake in Perth’s south on Thursday evening.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Fremantle players in tears during Cam McCarthy stand.
Stream analysis, local games and highlights for free 7 plus 
His death is not being treated as suspicious.
The packed Perth Stadium crowd was on its feet in unison to remember McCarthy, who played 49 games for the Dockers as well as 21 for GWS.
Nat Fyfe and Alex Pearce, two of Fremantle’s most senior figures, were visibly emotional during the tribute to their former team-mate.
Pearce wiped away tears as his side struggled to regain their composure to start the game in an emotional stadium.
“Tears in the eyes of his former teammates. A dark moment before they have to run out and play a game on the feet,” said commentator Adam Papalia.
“You can see the emotion on the faces of Nat Fyfe and Alex Pearce but they have to somehow put that aside and go out there now and play a footy game.”
The AFL’s social media account called it a “touching tribute”.
McCarthy was particularly close to some of Fremantle’s senior players.
Speaking shortly before the game, Dockers chief executive Simon Garlick said the club was “devastated” by the news.
“I knew Cam personally for a short period of time, but what was abundantly clear to anyone who interacted with Cam was his incredible personality,” Garlick said.
“He was fun-loving, remarkably kind, had an infectious personality and left a trail of smiles and laughter wherever he went and whoever he interacted with.
“Cam was incredibly popular with his teammates, his coaches, the football club staff and our fans loved him.
“So there will be a lot of people in the Fremantle family and the wider football community who will be hurt today.
“Our thoughts are with Cam’s immediate family; his mother and father and two sisters who are obviously going through an unimaginably difficult time at the moment.’
He said the decision to pay tribute to the club’s former player was an easy one.
“We felt it would be appropriate if we wanted to do something as part of tonight’s game to acknowledge and recognize Cam’s contributions,” Garlick added.
“So before the bounce, as the teams gather to do their final huddle and, generally speaking, when the captain addresses the team, the teams will gather and instead take a moment of silence to recognize Cam.
“We felt this was both a fitting and appropriate recognition of Cam’s incredibly significant contribution to our club.”
GWS halfback Josh Kelly played with McCarthy for three years before moving to Fremantle.
“My brother,” Kelly wrote of McCarthy.
“You brought me out of my shell in the early days and made the move to Sydney so much easier.
“Some of my best memories during those times. The best, warmest, happiest, funniest and most noble souls were there.
“Devastated that you are gone. RIP ‘Fidge’.
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For more information about depression, contact Afterblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
If you want to see this content, please adjust yours .
To learn more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
[ad_2]
