McKay’s ‘vulnerability’ lauded amid kicking woes

Carlton coach Michael Voss has backed his struggling star Harry McKay, after the key forward addressed his goalkicking woes

McKay has battled in front of goal this season, kicking 14.16 from 41 shots at goal, prompting calls for Carlton to change its forward line, despite the 25-year-old being a former Coleman Medal winner.

McKay struggled again last week in the loss to Sydney, managing just three behinds for the game, and spoke on the Ben & Harry podcast, hosted with his twin brother and Kangaroos defender Ben McKay, about the difficulties he’s having and the affect it’s had on his family.

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“After the game, seeing parents, like seeing mum’s face – she wears it, dad wears it. Ash Hansen, our forwards coach, he wears it because of what I’m doing,” he said.

“I don’t necessarily think that’s fair – Vossy wears it and gets asked about it flat out because of what I’m not doing well at the moment.”

Speaking ahead of what looms as a must-win match against Melbourne this week, Voss was impressed with his forward’s “vulnerability” in the face of the criticism he’s been subjected to so far this season. 

“I think it speaks more to his vulnerability that he’s prepared to have those conversations,” the Carlton coach said.

“The fact he’s in a space to feel safe enough to be able to share that – I think it takes an enormous amount of courage to be able to share that.

“The collective world has had a view on his goalkicking technique, and all I’ll say to that is sometimes simplicity is better than complexity.”

Voss added he won’t be making any changes to McKay’s position in the team.

“These moments – sometimes there might be a need to step away from those,” he said.

“I guess my experience over a long time is to step into those and just keep reinforcing what he needs to be able to do and keep backing that in, and he’ll make the adjustments needed.”

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