John McCarthy Biography

On the second anniversary of John McCarthy's death, Jay Schulz says his former Power teammate will always be remembered.

"It's a tough one to talk about a little bit," Schulz said.

"It's always an emotional time. And it's also time for remembering those sorts of things.

"But we know him as a person, he wouldn't want us to get hung up on it too much.

"He is always there with us when we run out every week."

Brad Ebert says the memory of John McCarthy continues to motivate the Power.

The coming elimination final between the Power and Magpies will be held two days before the first anniversary of McCarthy's tragic death in Las Vegas while holidaying with his Power teammates.

"There have been a lot of things like that that just keep popping up that remind you of him," Ebert said.

"Personally I've been thinking about him a lot … it's an emotional time for everyone and I'm sure that he'll be out there with us on the weekend.

"I think about him before every game and going out there running around he's always in the back of my mind."

The Power honour former departed teammate John McCarthy with a 56-point win over GWS.

Port Adelaide's first home game of 2013 against GWS will be used as a tribute to the departed John McCarthy.

Brad Ebert says their former teammate is still dearly missed.

"I've thought about him every game. On the weekend we had the black armbands for him and this week again the game will be to honour him," Ebert said.

"There are obviously times when you get down, but you've got to try and remember the good times you had with him because he was a top fella and one of my best mates."

Magpie Brent Macaffer to wear No. 3 as a tribute to his close friend John McCarthy who died while on an end of season trip with Port Adelaide teammates in Las Vegas in September 2012.

"Just before Christmas, obviously with J-Mac passing and him wearing the number three, it was the last number he wore before he left, he was a really close mate of mine," Macaffer said.

"Before I got to ask Bucks, he called me up and actually asked if I wanted to take that number. It was a nice gesture of him as well, I suppose, to think of me and to do that.

"I straight away said 'yeah, absolutely I'd love to do that,' and to wear the number and sort of represent him on behalf of the boys.

"That was the number he wore last, so I feel really humbled and privileged to do that."

Port Adelaide has announced a number of tributes to honour the late John McCarthy, including retiring his number 35 guernsey for the 2013 seaso.

"We have a considered a great number of suggestions – including many from our supporters - before committing to what the club and John's family feel are fitting and meaningful tributes to a much-loved and admired friend and footballer," Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas said.

"John's family has made it clear, most significantly at his funeral, that they want his teammates to play with John's spirit and his love of life more than be driven by his memory or their grief at his loss.

"They want everyone to share that attitude and we thank and admire them immensely for that, and are grateful that they have endorsed our proposed tributes."

Young Power defender Andrew Moore says Port Adelaide players continue to receive counselling as they struggle to deal with John McCarthy's death.

"A lot of players are still struggling to come to terms with it," Moore said.

"Every one of us is dealing with his loss differently and some have been affected more than others.

"He was extremely close to everyone here, so it's been a really difficult time for us."

Brad Ebert pays tribute to best mate John McCarthy after kicking the match-winner for Port Adelaide in London by kissing the black tape on his arm and looking to the skies to salute his former teammate.

There are a lot of emotions going through the last few months and obviously Dani, John's girlfriend, was here tonight and over the last year we have got on really well," Ebert said.

"He was my best mate and so it was great to be able to kick that goal and even though it was only an exhibition match, it was really nice to be able to do that.

"I had to give it a bit, just give him a salute."

Officials in Las Vegas have declared John McCarthy's tragic death in September an accident.

"The Coroner's Office has determined that Mr McCarthy died on September 9, 2012 (at) 6.16am, from multiple injuries due to a fall from height from a roof," a statement from the Clark County Coroner and Medical Examiner's office in Nevada said.

"The manner of death has been ruled accidental."

The Magpies overcome an emotional week following the death of former teammate John McCarthy to defeat the Eagles in a qualifying final at the MCG.

"I'm not sure how many clubs have been through what we have this week," suspended Magpie skipper Nick Maxwell said after the game.

"A lot of guys around that age haven't had to deal with a loss like that before.

"There's no manual to deal with things like this. I'm just so proud of the way they handled this and went about it and also the club as well. We spent a lot of time talking about how to prepare for the game and also to go through the process that is still continuing now."

Flamingo Hotel staff have no answers as to why the door that led to the roof was open to John McCarthy prior to his death.

It is believed the door was then locked behind McCarthy leaving the disoriented and drunk Power midfielder to believe his only exit was to leap to a palm tree and climb to safety.

The AFLPA remembers Port Adelaide's John McCarthy at its annual awards night after his shock death.

"The outpouring of tributes for John from players across the League reminded us that AFL players are a community, as well as colleagues and tonight is a night when we bring that community together," chief executive Matt Finnis said.

"Tonight will be a sad night and a tough night, particularly for those who played with and against John.

"But it is a night where we support each other and where the strength and loyalty of all the AFL players will shine through."

Police in Las Vegas believe John McCarthy's death was accidental and are working on a theory he fell from a palm tree after making his way to the roof of a casino.

"He then walked to the edge," Victoria Police officer Stuart Bailey said.

"The evidence is suggesting that he's jumped off that wall to a palm tree, maybe been disorientated at how much the fall was, slipped and has fallen to the ground."

A teammate of John McCarthy spoke by phone to the midfielder shortly before he fell to his death after being contacted by McCarthy's girlfriend, Dani Smarrelli, who was concerned about him.

McCarthy had earlier contacted Smarrelli and had sounded disorientated.

"She was concerned enough to make contact with one of our other players and to try and get him back into the group," Power CEO Keith Thomas said.

"That player made contact with John, and he was given every indication that he was OK and that he was on his way back."

Port Adelaide players who were on holiday with John McCarthy question whether they could have prevented his death.

The players, including Brett Ebert, Travis Boak and Hamish Hartlett, were receiving grief counseling.

"I don't want the impression out there that these lads just left one of their mates to roam around," Power CEO Keith Thomas said.

"As soon as they became aware (he was on his own), they made contact with him ... Unfortunately an accident happened."

Power CEO Keith Thomas says John McCarthy was a popular player who had embraced his new club after moving over from the Magpies.

"John was a very popular Port Adelaide player and had embraced the club as we had embraced him," Thomas said.

"There were tears (when the players and staff were informed of his death), he's a popular young fella.

"It's devastating news … he's a fantastic young fella, well liked … it's so disappointing on a football front, but more on a personal front."

More than 20 Essendon players have cancelled a trip to Las Vegas in the wake of John McCarthy's death.

"They decided out of respect to the McCarthy family that they wouldn't go as a group to Las Vegas," an Essendon spokesperson said.

"Obviously the club, players and everyone involved send their deepest condolences to the McCarthy family and the Port Adelaide Football Club."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says players are dealing with their grief over John McCarthy's death 'as best they can'.

"I think anyone's who's a brother or a son or has a close mate … if you can imagine that they're not sitting beside you any longer, that's what some of our boys are feeling," Buckley said.

"We've got some guys who were really close to John. His time at the club is still fondly remembered and it's just a tragedy for his family and friends to be going through what they're going through."

The Port Adelaide Football Club confirms the tragic death of player John McCarthy who fell from a balcony in Las Vegas during an end of season trip with teammates.

"The club was informed by US authorities in Las Vegas this morning that John had died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall from a building. The circumstances of the tragedy are still being investigated," a statement from the club read.

"Port Adelaide extends its deepest sympathies to John's family, girlfriend and team mates, and is providing whatever support necessary to help them through this tragedy."

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says John McCarthy's death has been met with devastation.

"For his teammates at Collingwood today it was utter devastation when the news filtered through from Las Vegas of the death of one of our great players … and a great friend of the club," McGuire said.

"[He had] sparkly eyes, great spirit, great love for his friends, great love for his club and love for the sport."

The AFL express their condolences to the family of Port Adelaide star John McCarthy, who tragically died in Las Vegas.

"This is a terrible tragedy for John's loved ones and our deepest sympathies go out to them," AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said in a statement.

"It is a very sad day for the Port Adelaide Football Club and the rest of the AFL industry to lose a young man in the prime of his life."

John McCarthy will wear Port Adelaide legend Chad Cornes' former number, 35, in 2012.

"I've got Cornesy's number, No.35, which is full-on and exciting," McCarthy said.

"I've certainly got some big shoes to fill and it's an honour to be given his jumper."

John McCarthy is picked up by Port Adelaide in the pre-season draft and says he is willing to travel to South Australia for an opportunity to play regular football in the seniors with the Power.

"I'd be lying if I said it wouldn't be more convenient to stay in Melbourne because I wouldn't have had to relocate much further than 100m across the road from Gosch's Paddock," McCarthy said.

"But I don't care. I just wanted an opportunity and I wanted to go somewhere where I could slot into their best 22 and play a full year in the seniors, so hopefully I can do that at Port."

John McCarthy says he can't wait to become an integral part of the Port Adelaide midfield.

"It's exciting times for Port supporters, there are a lot of young guys around so hopefully I can just step in and make an impact," he said.

"They're a young club and they've got a talented list. They're very young and they just need to mature a bit and get some games under their belt. But Matty said I would get plenty of opportunities in the midfield, which is what I'm after, and I'm probably one of the older guys here and I'm only 22."