Sydney's brother duo Paddy and Tom McCartin have extended their time at the Swans, with the pair putting pen to paper.
The younger of the two, Tom (24), agreed to a four-year extension, which will see him remain in Sydney until the end of 2027, while older brother, Paddy (26), to the end of 2024.
Paddy was initially drafted as pick one in the 2014 Draft by St Kilda as a key forward.
However, following multiple bouts of concussion, the 195cm bull was limited to 35 games in five seasons, forcing him into early retirement.
With brother Tom at the club, the Swans monitored Paddy's progress, and integrated him into training in the 2022 offseason.
Tom was drafted as pick 33 in the 2017 draft and has quickly become one of the premier defenders in the competition.
The pair have played all but one game together this season, forming an indestructible combination for coach John Longmire.
Tom said playing alongside his brother is a dream come true, while being able to do it for years to come just adds to the excitement.
“It’s really exciting and I feel very grateful to be able to sign for another four years. I love the club, I love the boys and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” Tom said on the club website.
“To be able to have Paddy sign on with me is extra special. He’s worked really hard and we’ve been fortunate to play together this year, so it’s a credit to him and the work he has put in to get another two years.
“Our back six have gelled together and we’re playing some consistent footy as a team, so I’ve been focused on consistency and playing my role. Hopefully we can keep doing that through the finals and see how far we can go."
Paddy also offered his gratitude to the Swans and revealed he was grateful for the second opportunity.
“To get a couple more years is fantastic – it’s a long way from where I was last year. I’m feeling good personally and loving my footy, and I feel really fortunate to be playing finals," Paddy said.
“For me and Tommy to be able to sign on together is really exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing what our team can do in the next few years."
Sydney GM of Football Charlie Gardiner was also excited by the prospect that the McCartin brothers will be holding down the backline for years to come.
“Paddy has done a remarkable job to return to senior football and play a really key role for us in defence,” Gardiner said.
“It has been a testament to his hard work and resilience and we are all incredibly proud of what he has been able to achieve ... is fantastic.
“Tom also deserves a huge amount of credit for the role he has played over the past few seasons.
“High quality key defenders are very hard to find, and we believe Tom is well on the way to being one of the elite defenders in the competition in the years ahead."
Sydney have been enjoying a week off as they prepare for a home preliminary final against Collingwood or Fremantle.
The Swans were able to down the reigning premiers, Melbourne, by 22 points at the MCG and have punters excited about their premiership credentials.
