Ex-AFL star Corey McKernan calls out Essendon supporters who jeered Ben McKay during Round 3 win over Port Adelaide

An ex-AFL star has called out Essendon supporters who jeered Ben McKay during the club’s win over Port Adelaide, revealing the mental toll of being targeted by his own fans during his career.

Premiership ruckman Corey McKernan has urged Essendon supporters to get behind Ben McKay as he revealed Bronx cheers from his own supporters were the low point of his decorated career.

McKay’s first mark was greeted with jeers from Essendon fans at Marvel Stadium but after a fumbled handball and dropped mark he responded strongly as the Dons surged to beat the Power.

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McKernan was jeered by Carlton fans early in the 2002 season amid a horror form slump after crossing from North Melbourne and broke down in tears post-match as he confided in club doctor Phil Perlstein.

He was backed in by coach Wayne Brittain midweek after the round 7, 2002 game who told him: “They can burn the f***ing grandstand down but I am not going to drop you”.

McKernan bounced back to win that year’s best-and-fairest as one of the most cherished moments of a dual premiership career given his early-season adversity.

Considering Ben McKay was the leading intercept marking player on the ground. I think we can stop with the Bronx cheers and support him as club "supporters"

— Scooter (@ScooterMcNeice) March 27, 2025

Credit to Ben McKay tonight, after a slow start to the game and unfortunately getting the Bronx cheers, he settled into the game nicely in the second half and finished with an equal team high of 6 intercept possessions alongside Nick Bryan. 👏👏 #GoDons

— Craig McGill 🟥⬛️ (@CraiG_Mc) March 27, 2025

Was at the game last night (gee that was tough watching for the majority of it). One thing that really got to me was the Bronx cheers for Ben McKay. He has done nothing to deserve and it is the one facet of our supporter base that I have always hated.

— Jonesy (@ObiJonesKenobi) March 28, 2025

He told the Herald Sun on Friday it was time for Dons fans to stand up for their own man.

“Getting booed by fans is nothing but when your own fans are taking the p*** out of you, it’s horrible. It’s as bad as it gets. It doesn’t get any worse,” he said.

“They are meant to be on your side. The people who are doing it want to think long and hard about the effect it has on players. I am not suggesting blind faith but you don’t turn on your own.

“It is gut-wrenching when it comes from your own fans. Did you ever stop and think of the effect it has on him? He’s busting his arse and doing extras and getting booed.”

McKernan, whose not-for-profit group Walk With Me highlights the physical and mental benefits of exercise, hopes McKay has balance in his life and outside interests away from the 24/7 grind of football.

Ben McKay and Xavier Duursma after Essendon’s win over Port Adelaide. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“I still remember when it happened to me — against Essendon on a Friday night at the MCG,” he said.

“Carlton was on the skids and we were playing our arch rival Essendon and after everyone left I was the last one in the rooms and I went into the doctors rooms with Phil Perlstein and just burst into tears. I said, ‘Mate, I don’t know what to do any more’.

“Even the exercise of opening up and admitting I was struggling helped. We didn’t come up with a coping strategy but I let it all out and I knew it couldn’t get any worse.

“I got the balance right, I organised a few games of golf which I had neglected, I got back to doing hospital visits, I worked with Craig Kelly at Elite Sports Properties and I got a few more spokes in my wheel than just football.”

Brad Scott praised McKay’s efforts in the victory over the Power.

In a game where the Bombers conceded early goals to Mitch Georgiades, McKay improved as the game wore on and Zach Reid flourished alongside the returning Jordan Ridley.

“He was the leading intercept defender on the ground for the most part of the game. He was really, really important for us tonight,” Scott said of McKay.

“And the thing is with key defenders, when you have breakdowns all over the ground defensively, it’s usually the last line key defenders that get hung out to dry. And we hung them out to dry last week.

“Ben McKay’s a really important part of what we’re doing and I have great belief in his capability.”

Originally published as Ex-AFL star Corey McKernan calls out Essendon supporters who jeered Ben McKay during Round 3 win over Port Adelaide