Harry McKay Biography

Harry McKay signs a seven-year deal to play with Carlton until at least the end of 2030.

“It is a dream job playing footy but to do it with this group, where a lot of us have grown up together in a way, it makes this a unique and special environment to be part of,” McKay said.

“To come to work every day as part of a group that has a clear vision of where we want to take our football club, that gives you every motivation you need as a player."

Carlton's Charlie Curnow wins the Coleman Medal as the AFL's leading goalkicker for 2022, finishing the season with 64 majors, four clear of Richmond's Tom Lynch.

Curnow's success comes 12 months after teammate Harry McKay won the Coleman in 2021 with a tally of 58 goals.

It's the first time two players from the same club have been the leading goalkicker in consecutive seasons since 1900-01, when Essendon's Albert Thurgood and Fred Hiskins won the award in what was then the VFL.

Harry McKay will miss the next six weeks after tearing the lateral meniscus in his knee during the Blues' win over Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.

Harry McKay says he has been working on his goalkicking during the off-season, both physically and mentally.

"It was something I wanted to explore more because you can do all the physical stuff but if on game day you're not in a great mental space then it doesn't really matter. I haven't done a heap of it before, so I was just exploring it," he said.

"It's pretty individualised, but I've been doing a bit of work on that fear of outcome and trying to take that away. And then backing myself in. I'm a nice kick, it doesn't matter if the goals are in front of me or not. So it's been really good."

Harry McKay is on a modified program as he struggles with a groin issue.

"We gave Harry a short period of rest and his groins settled down really well. As we built him up slowly, his groins got a little bit sore," Carlton director of high performance Andrew Russell said.

"We've had to pull him back a little bit and re-strengthen that area. We'll progress him back into ball work in the new year."

Harry McKay signs a two-year contract extension to remain at Carlton until the end of 2021.

"We're a tight-knit playing group and I want to be working hard alongside these boys to bring success to our club once again," McKay said.

"I know I still have a lot of hard work ahead of me to get to where I want to be as a player and that will be my focus in 2019 – to continue to learn as much as I can from the coaches and my teammates so that I can take that next step in my career."

Harry McKay will return for Carlton this week, with Blues coach Brendon Bolton shining a light on why the young forward has endured a prolonged absence from the team.

The 20-year-old's development amid a dismal start to the 2018 season had been a rare positive for the Blues, with the 200cm forward kicking 12 goals from his first six matches this year.

However, he was left out of the side six weeks ago and hasn't been seen since, with his lack of senior appearances a constant talking point among fans during the past month.

"For two years, he was hampered by a back injury … and then a significant turf toe injury," Bolton explained.

"He then built up some consistency and got some AFL games, which we all saw and witnessed. He went out of the team and since then, there hasn't been a lot of continuity. He got quite ill with the flu and missed a lot of training in that period.

"Only in the last three weeks or so has he got good continuity back."

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton explains why Harry McKay is languishing in the VFL.

"I can appreciate that he's got some talent, but his consistency in some contest work quarter to quarter needs to grow – he's fully aware and understanding of that," Bolton said.

"He'd be first to admit [that and] at the moment he's working his way through that as a young forward."

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton says he would love to unleash key forward Harry McKay, but says the top-10 pick simply isn't ready to again play at AFL level.

"For the (two-and-a-bit) years he's been here to date, Harry's unfortunately had body issues; he hasn't completed a full pre-season, he hasn't had any continuity of games and he's playing one of the most difficult positions," Bolton said.

"So, we're trying now to build consistency, so that when he does come in the AFL, he's not in and out, he can get in there and stay there – again, all part of the plan."

Carlton assistant coach David Teague believes Harry McKay has the talent to succeed in the AFL and largely needs a good run of health to do so.

"Right now he needs continuity, he needs to be out there, he needs to be able to play – and not only play but train," Teague said.

"I think if we can see that and he avoids the injuries it's going to be a great opportunity for him to become the player that he wants to be.

"I think talent-wise he's there, it's just going to be (a case of) getting out there to do it against men."

Carlton youngster Harry McKay delivered a cheeky Twitter quip to his twin brother, Ben McKay, after the North Melbourne tall had a debut he would rather forget on Saturday.

Ben collided heavily with Kangaroos teammate Sam Durdin in a big marking contest late in the third term of the 51-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

Play was halted for several minutes as Ben was fitted with a neck brace and taken from the ground on a motorised stretcher, before being admitted to hospital for observation.

Harry tweeted his brother on Monday night to congratulate him on his maiden game, but took a friendly swipe in the process.

"Congrats on the debut and first win @benmckay_23! How'd you go singing the song?" Harry tweeted, posting a photo of his brother on the stretcher.

Determined not to be outdone, Ben returned fire soon after because the sibling rivalry goes both ways.

"How many AFL games have you won?" Ben replied.

Harry McKay makes his AFL debut for Carlton at the Gabba with 11 disposals (8 kicks and 3 handballs), 6 marks, a tackle and a goal in a 30-point loss to Brisbane.

Harry McKay will miss at least the next 12 weeks after suffering a stress reaction in his lower back.

Scans revealed the 18-year-old key forward will not require surgery, however.

"After a second set of scans confirmed the injury, Harry will unfortunately miss the first two months of the season," Blues football manager Andrew McKay said.

"With no surgery required, Harry will rest for the next two weeks before beginning his rehab plan."

Harry McKay has fully embraced Carlton's 2016 mindset that its youngsters not put any limits on what they can achieve.

"Speaking with the coaches and the guys, we don't want to put a roof on my expectations and the team's expectations next season," McKay said.

"We want to go in with an open mind. Anything can happen when it comes to the season, so there's no point putting a roof on what could happen.

"We're really open-minded, and I'm really open-minded, about what could go on next year."

Carlton select Harry McKay pick No.10 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.

"A forward/ruck who's very exciting. He's really young – he doesn't turn 18 until late December – and he only came into the system this year so he's got some upside," Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni said.

The twin brothers are both fresh AFL draftees, but Harry McKay reckons he has one over his sibling Ben.

Harry was snared by Carlton with pick No.10 in Tuesday's NAB AFL Draft, while Ben was chosen by North Melbourne with selection 21.

"I won't let him forget about that, that’s for sure ... I’ve definitely got the wood on him by being the first picked," Harry said.

Standing next to his brother, Ben didn't take the bait.

"I'll let my footy do the talking, I think. Wait until we get out on the ground," Ben said.

The towering 17-year-olds could well take their backyard scraps into the AFL arena - 200cm tall Harry is renowned as a forward and 198cm Ben is a defender.

"It would be a bit of fun," Harry said of a potential clash.

"There would be a fair bit of banter and a few little cheap shots.

"Hopefully, we can look forward to that in the next 10 years."