Bernard Francis McCarthy (21 August 1943 – 16 February 2019) was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Bernie McCarthy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Bernard Francis McCarthy | ||
| Date of birth | (1943-08-21)21 August 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Caulfield, Victoria[1] | ||
| Date of death | 16 February 2019(2019-02-16) (aged 75) | ||
| Place of death | Seymour, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Yea (WNEFL) | ||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1962–1971 | North Melbourne | 148 (80) | |
| 1971 | Preston (VFA) | 006 0(0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1971. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
McCarthy was the eldest of three brothers from Yea who played in the VFL.[2] The youngest, Shane, played at Geelong and the other, Gavan McCarthy, made two appearances for North Melbourne, one of them with Bernie in round five of the 1965 VFL season.[3] A nephew, Matthew, was also a Geelong footballer and another, John, played at Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
A centre half-forward, McCarthy partnered John Dugdale as North Melbourne's key forwards throughout the 1960s.[4]
He finished the 1971 season at Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Preston and was one of the club's best players in the Grand Final loss to Dandenong that year.[5]
His career then continued in the Bendigo Football League, where he captain-coached South Bendigo. He won the Michelsen Medal in 1973 and led his side to a premiership in 1974.
McCarthy died on 16 February 2019, aged 75.[6]