There were emotional scenes in Perth on Friday night as Cameron McCarthy’s former teammates became emotional in a pre-game tribute after the ex-AFL player’s shock death.
Earlier on Friday it was confirmed the former Fremantle and GWS player died at the age of 29.
Paramedics and police were reportedly called to the south of Perth in Lake Coogee on Thursday night.
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“About 6:15pm yesterday, Thursday 9 May 2024, emergency services were called to an address in Lake Coogee. Upon arrival, it was confirmed a 29-year-old male was deceased,” a WA police statement read.
“The death is being treated as non-suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner.”
At this stage it’s unclear how McCarthy died.
Players from both Fremantle and the Sydney Swans wore black armbands and stood for a pre-game tribute and moment of silence before Friday night’s AFL game at Optus Stadium.
Following a message read out over the PA system, senior Fremantle players including captain Alex Pearce and two-time Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe were visibly emotional and shed a tear as they linked arms in moving scenes.
Pearce took a moment to wipe his eyes after the tribute, before grabbing his teammates in a huddle before the game started.
Watch the emotional Cam McCarthy tribute in the video above
Fox Footy’s Adam Papalia said: “Tears in the eyes of his former teammates. A sombre moment before they have to run in and play a game of footy.
“We remember Cam McCarthy. He’s certainly in the minds of his teammates. You could see the emotion on the face of Nat Fyfe and Alex Pearce.
“They have to somehow put that aside and go out there and play a game of footy.”
Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich said the players faced the impossible task of having to “compartmentalise and play two hours of tough footy against the best team in the competition”.
“A challenging day for Alex Pearce, for Nat Fyfe, a lot of those senior players who spent time with him,” he said.
CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote on X: “Can’t imagine what some of the Freo players are going through tonight.
“A beautiful pre-match tribute for Cam McCarthy at Optus Stadium tonight.”
The Optus Stadium stood in the 23rd minute of the first quarter to give an ovation for McCarthy, who wore the No. 23 on his jersey.
Fox Footy’s sideline reporter Kath Loughan said: “Alex Pearce turned to the fans and told them to get up, stand up and applaud his mate.”
McCarthy spent two seasons with the Giants, appearing in 21 games before advising the club of his desire to return home following the 2015 season.
After his trade request was denied by the Giants, McCarthy sat out the 2016 season as he returned home to Western Australia.
He was ultimately traded to Fremantle in the 2016 trade period, where he played 49 games and kicked 63 goals.
His time in the AFL came to an abrupt end in 2020 when he sensationally quit the Dockers mid-season after being told he was not being offered a contract for the following year.
Fremantle football manager Peter Bell, at the time of McCarthy’s 2020 delisting, said it was “mutually agreed” that he would depart ahead of his scheduled axing.
McCarthy returned to his WAFL club, South Fremantle on a two-year deal in November of 2020, but did not return to training after recording four touches in the season opener against West Perth.