Taking a Gamble: Lincoln McCarthy’s Bold Strategy to Make a Comeback from ACL Surgery Ahead of AFL Finals

Brisbane Lions veteran Lincoln McCarthy is preparing to undertake a bold plan to return to football by 2025, drawing inspiration from Sam Docherty’s swift recovery and aiming to surpass it.

McCarthy, who is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday following a second ACL tear sustained just ten days ago, is targeting an extraordinary late-season comeback.

This ambitious strategy involves the 31-year-old striving to return to play in August, less than six months after his operation.

The Lions are fully behind McCarthy’s aspirations, recognising that this recovery path carries considerably more risk than the typical 12-month rehabilitation period.

The Lions’ medical team presented McCarthy with four potential paths last week.

The first option involved a traditional knee reconstruction, which would have sidelined the 151-game veteran for the remainder of the season, potentially jeopardising his career as he is out of contract.

An alternative was to proceed with LARS surgery, which comes with its own set of short- and long-term risks.

The third possibility, discussed with Brisbane assistant coach Dale Morris, was allowing the knee to recover naturally over time without surgical intervention.

Morris chose to avoid surgery at the age of 36 during the pre-season in 2019. He managed a return midway through the year but sadly re-injured his knee in his first game back.

Back in 2007, Daniel Giansiracusa partially tore his ACL in December, opted against an operation, played in Round 1, and ultimately retired in 2014 with no significant further issues.

However, it is the fourth option that McCarthy has committed to, closely mirroring Docherty’s approach from last year: undergoing surgery followed by a rigorous rehabilitation process.

Docherty experienced just 183 days between his third ACL rupture in 2024 and his return at the Gabba for an elimination final.

If McCarthy can match that recovery period, he will be primed to return on September 17.

However, he aims to beat that timeline, setting his sights on coming back in closer to five months, just ahead of the AFL finals series.

On Monday, Dr. Peter Larkins spoke to 9News Melbourne, stating: “Any player who returns in the 10-12 month range is taking a gamble.”

It has been reported that during surgery, the surgeon will utilise tissue from McCarthy’s patellar tendon instead of the more standard method of using a graft from the hamstring.

In Australia, approximately 90% of ACL reconstructions employ a hamstring graft, while 10% opt for the patient’s patellar tendon.

McCarthy and the Lions understand the associated risks, yet they deem it worthwhile considering his age and Brisbane’s championship prospects.

In a press release last Tuesday, the club refrained from completely ruling out McCarthy for the season.

“McCarthy will continue to explore the best course of action with the club,” the statement noted.