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PORT Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi says John McCarthy and his long-term girlfriend Dani Smarrelli had become a "strong part of the Port Adelaide family" in McCarthy's first season as a Power player.

He said he hadn't seen any player transition so easily into the club as McCarthy did when he was traded from Collingwood to Alberton in 2011.

Smarrelli joined McCarthy in Adelaide this year and an emotional Cassisi told the Power's website they were much-loved.

Speaking publically for the first time since McCarthy's tragic death while on holiday in Las Vegas, Cassisi described him as a "ripping guy".

"John was just a ripping guy, I haven't seen anyone come into our club and just fit in with the boys from day one (like he did)," Cassisi said.

"Dani (Smarrelli) moved over in the new year and she built some really strong relationships with the girls, so they really became a strong part of the Port Adelaide family really quickly.

"It's been a really, really tough emotional time, not only for us, but obviously his family and everyone involved."

The Power skipper choked back tears as he said that while the players had only really known McCarthy for a year, it felt as though he had been a life-long friend.

They would miss McCarthy's signature smile the most, he said, as well as his positive outlook on life.

"The thing we'll miss, you walk into the club in the morning and he's smiling from the moment you walk in ... no matter what the circumstances were, whether we won, lost, or whether he played good or bad, he was always there for the group and always trying to be positive," he said.

"We were talking last night and it does feel as though we've known him for years and years, he's only been here for 12 months but that just goes to show the impact and what sort of bloke he was."

Including social media, Port Adelaide has received more than 5000 personal tributes to McCarthy. His uncle John Olle said the public response was testament to his nephew's character.

"A life doesn't attract a response of such magnitude unless it is truly worthy, and Johnny's was," Olle said.

Cassisi said several players had been able to tell McCarthy just how happy they were to have him as a brother.

"It was only a week or two (ago) when we were having a few beers and we were saying to him how much we we've enjoyed having his company at the club," he said.

"He was really looking forward to next year."