KATE McCarthy has given a whole new meaning to pacemaker.
The Brisbane midfielder left Collingwood for dead when she pulled off arguably the goal of the season — a five bounce stunner from the centre of the ground.
McCarthy, 23, is relatively new to AFL, having represented Australia for touch footy before making the code switch a couple of years ago.
Her pace is dazzling. And incredible given her grade three heart blockage, which doctors said would prevent her from ever playing competitive sport. A pacemaker keeps her alive.
I think today I may be the first person to play an AFL match with a pacemaker. Don’t let anything hold you back! #metalheart#AFLWDeesLions
— Kate McCarthy (@katemccarthy24) February 5, 2017
“I was told when I got it at age 12 that I wouldn’t be able to play any sport again but it hasn’t stopped me,” McCarthy told Courier Mail.
“A bump can make it hurt a bit but it would take some serious force to dislodge it or anything. The cardiologist seems to think it’s all good.”
McCarthy made it two from two, after she was on the end of some classy work from Kaitlyn Ashmore in the final term.
Originally published as Video: Pacemaker McCarthy’s five-bounce stunner
