Carlton to ease key forward Harry McKay back into pre-season due to groin soreness
Carlton’s key forward stocks have suffered another off-season setback, with Harry McKay on limited duties until next year due to a recurrence of groin soreness.
Carlton
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Carlton forward Harry McKay will not ramp up his training program until the new year.
McKay, the Blues’ leading goalkicker in 2019 with 26 majors, has been on a modified training program after his season was ended by groin soreness.
The Blues say they will take a cautious approach with the 21-year-old’s recovery.
“We gave Harry a short period of rest and his groins settled down really well,” director of high performance Andrew Russell said.
“As we built him up slowly, his groins got a little bit sore.
“We’ve had to pull him back a little bit and restrengthen that area.
“We’ll progress him back into ball work in the new year.”
McKay’s groin concerns compound the Blues’ off-season injury worries with fellow forward Charlie Curnow out until at least late February after undergoing knee surgery.
“It’s a new injury. It’s not exactly the same as the one he had,” Russell said.
“We’re really confident that Charlie is going to be back and in good shape.
The news is more positive for Carlton’s defensive stocks.
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The club hoped Caleb Marchbank (neck) will be fit to feature in pre-season fixtures next year, while Tom Williamson (back) has the club “really excited”.
Meanwhile, co-captain Sam Docherty has been involved in “about 80 per cent” of pre-season drills as he ramps up his recovery from a knee injury.