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Find your frequency hereThe moment McCartney knew his emotional return was “quite remarkable”
Andrew Slevison • July 25th, 2025 3:40 pm
Jason McCartney was at the centre of arguably the most memorable moment ever at Marvel Stadium.
This weekend the AFL celebrates 25 years of the venue which started out as Colonial Stadium and has also been known as Telstra Dome and Etihad Stadium.
A most special and iconic moment at the venue occurred in the 2003 season when North Melbourne took on Richmond.
The Round 11 game marked the inspirational return of Kangaroos veteran McCartney who eight months earlier had been badly injured in the devastating Bali Bombings.
McCartney recalls the “remarkable” moment in front of the Tigers cheer squad that occurred when he trotted to the goal square, sparking a flood of emotions.
“There’s a funny moment - rotations weren’t a thing then so I spent the whole first quarter on the interchange which was somewhat frustrating,” McCartney told SEN Afternoons.
“But when I ran on at the start of the second quarter, we were kicking to the Southern End and it was the Richmond cheer squad end. They stood as one and applauded which I had never had in my entire life as a player, probably not even for my own teams, let alone the opposition cheer squad.
“That was quite remarkable. You do look back post the game and in the subsequent years that passed and you realise the enormity of the situation.
“That game was more than a game of footy, it transcended sport in some ways. It was great to have so many people there who helped me and my family and others throughout he journey of that recovery period of eight months at that point.”
McCartney worked tirelessly and heroically to graft his way back to the top after receiving second-degree burns to more than 50 per cent of his body.
Did he have any idea how iconic a moment it would be and how it would impact so many people?
“No idea at all. Even when you’re lying in hospital in those early dark days, you’re ambitious and the reality is I was probably hoping to get back (and play),” he added.
“I didn’t know but I just needed all this positive energy moving forward to get well quick enough. Ultimately you’re just trying to get your life back on track. Part of that was obviously work and work was slightly different being an AFL player.
“There was no real understanding - the way it played out that night and beyond - of the enormity it would and has had on so many people.”
McCartney always knew that if he made it back to the AFL that he’d only have enough energy in him to play one last game.
He had put together some decent VFL form but was battling with a gaping hole in his calf and struggling with his grafted skin, which led to his retirement immediately after the game.
“I didn’t know when I would get back at AFL level. I thought I could have been back earlier, I had some really good VFL form behind me,” he continued.
“I missed a game or two with a calf injury and it was partly to do with the shrapnel wounds I sustained. I had a decent hole blow in my left calf. Every time I did play I would constantly break open the grafted skin.
“Physically it was pretty draining. It was amazing this couple of weeks I was able to do most of the training but I missed a few games,” he said further.
“That was a bit of a light bulb moment that whenever this is - and I don’t know when - as it turned out it was three or four weeks later but even if it was eight or nine so be it, I was still desperate to get back and play.
“But I knew in my own mind then, whenever it would be, that it would just be the one game.”
For the record, the Roos we’re inspired by McCartney to beat the Tigers by three points in a thriller.
McCartney, now the GWS footy boss, ended his career with 182 games to his name, 107 which came with the Roos, 38 with Collingwood and 37 with Adelaide.
Listen below to McCartney relive that special night:
