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The Live Sport Bible is here!The role change that "unlocked" Harry McKay
Jaiden Sciberras • May 10th, 2026 2:00 pm
Carlton may have fallen short against the Brisbane Lions, but the revival of key forward Harry McKay rings as one of the great positives for the losing side.
Enduring an incredibly difficult start to the season, McKay managed just eight goals within his first seven games as the Blues’ focal point on offense.
Beyond his limited scoreboard influence, McKay was struggling to get involved in games, averaging just over 10 disposals and four marks over his last three games.
Clearly down on confidence, Carlton opted to back their man in – an obvious talent, it was surely only a matter of time before McKay found some rhythm.
And that he did, collecting 21 disposals, taking 10 marks and kicking three goals against the Lions in an inspired performance at the Gabba.
While it presents as a great sign for McKay and the club, Kane Cornes couldn’t help but think differently off the back of Friday night.
“If there was a mid-season trade period, how good would it be – is what I thought,” Cornes told SEN's Crunch Time.
“What Carlton could do in terms of cashing in on a desperate team that is in the premiership window – I look at Adelaide. What would Adelaide give for Harry McKay right now in the mid-season trade period?
“What would Collingwood give for Harry, and how could Carlton exploit the desperation of a team that wants to win the premiership this year?
“I think we are definitely missing something with that and missing not only an opportunity for Carlton to cash in on that, but also for teams that need that.
“I think it shows that he can play, and it shows that there will still be some value for him, but he is not a player that I would want to go to a final’s series with, regardless of what he produced.
“I’d still be looking to move him on if there was a club that was willing to pick him up.”
Gerard Whateley thought rather differently, applauding the Blues for finally shifting McKay into a second ruck role,
“The coach always knows his team better than we do from the outside, so I preface this remark.
“I’ve never understood the reticence to put him in the ruck as the second ruckman, under the Joe Daniher rule.
“It just looked like it unlocked him again. Get him up, get him into it, and then when he goes back to the forward line, he’s ready to compete and ready to take those marks.”
Earlier this week, former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley outlined the three options that Carlton had regarding McKay and his struggle for form.
On Friday, the Blues exercised one of those options, paying off to maximum effect.
“Your options with Harry were this: drop him, put him in a more combative position or back him in to play as a key forward,” Hinkley said.
“His cheque that he gets paid for is off the back of winning a Coleman Medal, so this bloke can actually play at the level, and he showed that again.
“He can play at the level if he’s confident. When you’ve not got confidence, the first thing you need to do is be prepared to go back to the contest and work really hard.
“He got the opportunity to go back to the contest, and then he was prepared to take on a big challenge and did a great job on Harris Andrews.
“I think he just lacks confidence, and the team lacks belief. He is the byproduct of the way the ball is coming to him at different stages, but he is a different player.
“He was always going to battle with Charlie Curnow going out of the side, because he was going to get a different matchup and he got the best matchup.
“He has finally, for the very first time, showed that he can control and cope in that matchup. Now we just need to see it more consistently from him.”
McKay will look to carry his strong performance into next week, as the Blues take on the Bulldogs next Saturday night.
