Cam McCarthy’s family break their silence after footy star’s tragic death aged just 29 threw the AFL world into deep shock

The family of Cam McCarthy have paid a heart-wrenching tribute to the Fremantle and GWS footy star after his death last week aged just 29.

McCarthy, who started his AFL career with the Giants before switching to his home town team with the Dockers from 2017 to 2020, was found by police and paramedics when they were called to a property in Perth’s south on May 9.

His loved ones posted the tribute on Thursday, writing: ‘Our beautiful son and brother, Cameron. It is with heavy hearts that we’ve had to say goodbye for now.

‘A huge hole now exists in our lives. It will never be the same without you.

‘Through the ups and downs we all rode with you, and you knew that we loved you so much.

‘You lit up every room with that gorgeous smile, and we will cherish our memories with you forever.

‘Until we meet again. Rest peacefully. Love you always, Dad, Mum, Jessica, Hannah, Drew, Ryan, Poppy.’

The gesture comes after McCarthy’s childhood friend and fellow football star Tom Barrass paid an emotional tribute to him on Wednesday.

‘Last week, this earth lost a beautiful man named Cameron McCarthy. A man who wasn’t concerned with money or power, instead creativity and experience,’ West Coast Eagles star Barrass wrote. 

‘A man who approached all things with energy and excitement, as if viewing them for the first time,’ he posted.

‘A man whose presence will be sorely missed, but whose outlook and opinion can be heard any time we wish to listen.

‘Enjoy the journey and lean in. Trust your intuition and have conviction, as that’s all you’ve really got in the end.’

McCarthy’s death saw his Dockers teammates fight back tears as they marked his passing in emotional scenes just before their match against the Swans last Friday night. 

The Fremantle-born star’s battle with mental health issues was well documented through his AFL career, which spanned from 2014 to 2020. 

McCarthy was drafted by the Giants with pick No.14 in 2013 and managed one game in his debut season.

He played a total of 49 games for the Fremantle Dockers and 21 games for GWS, having been drafted from South Fremantle.

Headlines followed when he left the Giants at the end of the 2015 season, choosing to sit out the last year of his contract before being traded to Fremantle.

McCarthy was granted indefinite leave by the Giants in January 2016 so he could be closer to family while he battled a mental health condition.

That came after he requested a trade to Fremantle during the 2015 trade period, which was denied by the Giants.

He went on to have a breakthrough season that year, kicking 35 goals, but did not play a single game in 2016.

He sent a scare through the Dockers squad in 2020 when he collapsed at training and was taken to hospital.

The Fremantle-born star was later diagnosed with epilepsy and although he was medically cleared to play, his contract was not renewed by the club at the end of the 2020 season.

He returned to South Fremantle in the WAFL for two seasons but would only go on to play 10 more matches in that time, and was unable to kick on when he tried to restart his stalled WAFL career in the reserves for South Fremantle in 2021.