Liam McMahon: Collingwood reject, Carlton best-and-fairest and now Essendon new hope

Carlton VFL coach Luke Power likens him to an EPL striker, a natural finisher. Liam McMahon has graduated from the toughest school in footy, learning how to be a key forward.

Liam McMahon celebrates a goal for Essendon.

Before making his AFL debut, Liam McMahon held a unique honour.

Until a couple of weeks ago he was both Carlton and Essendon’s leading VFL goalkicker this season.

He’d bagged 24 goals in seven games for the Blues before the Bombers snapped him up in the mid-season draft, only overtaken by Harrison Lemmey a fortnight ago.

McMahon slotted 19 goals in six VFL appearances for his new club – six more than Alwyn Davey Jnr – and his combined 43 majors is No.1 in the competition.

He might not get a chance to win the Frosty Miller Medal.

Liam McMahon kicks a goal with his first kick for Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

Liam McMahon celebrates his first AFL goal.

Selected to make his debut against GWS last week, he joined the coveted first-kick-first-goal club and put a stop to the Bombers’ yips after starting 0.8.

It’s the culmination of a long journey.

His draft year wiped out by COVID, the key forward was selected by Collingwood with pick No.31 in 2020.

He was delisted two years later and joined Carlton’s VFL program, establishing himself as one of the competition’s leading forwards and winning the club’s best-and-fairest last season.

Now 22, it saw him in line to win a place on the Blues’ AFL list but was overlooked for a SSP spot in favour of Francis Evans.

He responded with bags of multiple goals in every game, catching the eye of Essendon instead.

Carlton VFL coach Luke Power was in the stands last week to watch McMahon’s AFL debut, proud his former star’s determination had been rewarded.

“Early days there was a question of whether he was a forward or back and he was keener to play back, maybe in a lot of respects it was easier,” Power said.

Liam McMahon in action for Carlton VFL.

Liam McMahon during his time at Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

“But what we learnt was he was such a natural goalkicker, a natural finisher.

“In the three years he spent with us he just kept developing and getting better, which is a credit to him, to the point we made him one of our captains this year.

“We’re really proud of Liam, everyone is really excited for him and his family.”

Like ruckmen, key forwards take longer to develop.

Jesse Hogan was at his third club before winning a Coleman Medal, Tom Hawkins took six years to establish himself, Jack Riewoldt four, while Riley Thilthorpe – who was drafted the same year as McMahon – is having his breakout season in 2024.

Power said young forwards faced a more difficult path.

“When players go into the (AFL) system, it can take longer than they think and the club thinks,” he said.

“The great story for Liam is resilience, he’s come back to a VFL program, which isn’t an easy thing when you’ve been in the AFL, and truly committed.

“I think it’s given him a great resolve, a greater appreciation and … what we get is a more rounded player and a more rounded person.

“Forwards need to be able to win more one-on-one contests or more outnumbered contests, whereas backs get more support from their teammates in the modern game.

Collingwood's 2020 draftees; (from left) Reef McInnes, Finlay Macrae, Liam McMahon and Oliver Henry.

The Essendon 13. The Bombers’ 2025 debutants; (back) Vigo Visentini, Archer May, Isaac Kako, Angus Clarke, Lewis Hayes, Lachlan Blakiston, Thomas Edwards, (front) Archer Day-Wicks, Saad El-Hawli, Zak Johnson, Oskar Smartt, Luamon Lual and Liam McMahon. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Liam has always found a way to impact games.

“He’s by no means a high possession winner but I relate him to an EPL striker, he finds a way to hit the scoreboard and impact with the possessions he has.”

For the past two seasons McMahon has also been back at junior club, Eltham.

Senior coach Tim Bongetti was a talented key forward himself and believed forwards had the most pressure placed on them.

“As the speed and the tempo of the game has gone up there’ a lot of emphasis on defence,” Bongetti said.

“You watch games of AFL, at one time all 34 players can be in a half and the power forward is trying to work against four blokes.

“It only gets harder for a young forward, so it takes time for them to adjust.

“Then you’ve got to compete with the outside world knocking you down because you might not be getting a kick.

“Look at Charlie Curnow, everyone is entitled to a bad patch, you can’t be the best for 24 games a year for 10 years.

“As soon as they have one bad game, everyone is on their back, what are they doing wrong, criticism is wayward and the pressure gets put on the power forward.

After leaving Collingwood he joined Montmorency in the Northern league and has spent the past two years at junior club Eltham.

While he only played one game, getting back around his mates has taken some of the stress out of footy.

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“There’s a lot of pressure at the top level, being able to get down and feel the local footy vibe – Finnbar Maley still does the same – and it helps you escape the professionalism that sometimes gets to people,” Bongetti said.

“We went after Liam fully understanding he was going to play a lot of VFL footy but just having the person around the club would be worth its weight in gold.

“We got the one game out of him last year and just before he got drafted he was available and I messaged (North Heidelberg coach) Kasey Duncan he’s got lucky Essendon picked him up.”

McMahon has held his spot for Friday night’s clash with Western Bulldogs, teaming up with fellow Northern Knights product Nate Caddy in a glimpse of the future.