Carlton forward Harry McKay to miss Bulldogs clash due to personal reasons

Carlton forward Harry McKay will miss Friday night’s match against the Western Bulldogs due to personal reasons. The club announced on Thursday morning that the 2021 Coleman Medalist will not participate in the Round 3 game at Docklands Stadium. This follows McKay’s brief absence from the team after the Blues' loss to Hawthorn last Thursday.

In a statement, the Blues said, "The forward has been away from the club for a number of days dealing with a personal matter following the game against Hawthorn on Thursday night." The statement also noted, "He returned to the club on Wednesday and was able to train with his teammates. However, the welfare of the 27-year-old remains the club’s priority as he manages his personal affairs."

The club stated that it will provide McKay with support in the coming week and will determine his availability for Round 4 at a later date. McKay had previously missed last week’s loss to Hawthorn due to illness. Carlton coach Michael Voss revealed that McKay had been away from the club for a period. Voss said of McKay, "Obviously, he's been dealing with a few things this week. He's been out of the club for a little bit, but obviously felt it was best not to play this week, so we'll give him the space he needs to sort through a few things."

Voss added, "We won't put a timeline on it, but we hope to get him back as soon as we can." McKay’s absence will be a significant blow to Carlton’s hopes of reversing their worrying 0-2 start to the season. Carlton is already under pressure after an unexpected loss to Richmond, a team widely considered to be at the bottom, despite leading by 41 points.

Carlton will face the Western Bulldogs at Docklands Stadium on Friday night in what is already a crucial game for both sides. In addition, young Carlton forward Elijah Hollands is also sidelined, having taken personal leave prior to the start of the season.