AFL 2024: Ben McKay expects Essendon to have best defence in the league
Essendon’s defence was way off the pace in 2023 but the new recruit of the backline expects the Dons to fly up those rankings after joining the club in the off-season.
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New Bomber Ben McKay believes his Essendon teammates can form the best backline in the league as he can only see his second club flying up the ladder in 2024.
McKay crossed over from North Melbourne on big money as a free agent, turning down an offer from rival Hawthorn in part because of the success he can see coming for Essendon.
A late fade out in 2023 saw the Bombers drop out from the top eight in Brad Scott’s first year in charge.
Before August, the Dons had shown stark signs of improvement but only bottom three clubs West Coast, North Melbourne and Hawthorn conceded more points than Essendon last year.
With the Bombers also conceding the fourth-most inside-50s of any team, the back six wasn’t solely to blame for the big scores the Dons let through.
McKay said he can see the makings of a top defence with new teammates Andy McGrath, Jordan Ridley, Jayden Laverde and Mason Redman locked in down back.
Essendon will hope to finally get a full season out of highly touted tall Zach Reid and Sam Weideman will continue to spend time in defence after showing good signs late this year, with Brandon Zerk-Thatcher now gone to Port Adelaide.
“I am really excited to try and fit in there and learn each other’s games and become a really tight-knit group,” McKay said.
“I thought they had a really good year down back … those great teams have such a strong backline so I want to be part of the best backline in the league and I believe we can do that with those guys down there.”
McKay grew up a mad Essendon fan and said the pull of his boyhood club and the usual string of blockbuster games the club plays in helped him rebuff opposition offers.
The defender is set to be paid more than $1 million in 2024 as part of a front-loaded six-year contract.
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