AFL’s leading goal kicker Harry McKay’s season is over after shoulder surgery

An 11-goal lead in the Coleman Medal race will have to be enough after season-ending surgery for the AFL’s leading goalkicker.

Harry McKay has kicked 58 goals this season. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Carlton spearhead Harry McKay has done everything he can to win a first Coleman Medal after being sent for season-ending surgery on Thursday with two rounds of the AFL season to go.

McKay will finish his breakout season on 58 goals – 11 more than Geelong’s Tom Hawkins and Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt who are the only legitimate chances to catch him.

Adelaide’s Taylor Walker, who has kicked 48 goals, has been suspended for the remainder of the season for racial vilification.

Western Bulldogs spearhead Josh Bruce, also on 48 goals, suffered a devastating knee injury last weekend that will sideline him for 12 months.

Hawkins and Riewoldt would need to kick 12 goals or more each over the final two weeks of the season to pass McKay, who requires surgery to repair a high-grade injury to his AC joint.

Liam Jones and Harry McKay will miss the remainder of the season.

Full details below.

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 11, 2021

With Carlton’s finals hopes dashed by a loss to Gold Coast last week, McKay will undergo the surgery on Thursday morning and start preparing for 2022.

He’ll be joined on the sidelines for the remainder of the season by Carlton defender Liam Jones, who reported knee soreness in the days following Saturday’s game against Gold Coast.

He underwent scans this week as a result that revealed an injured patella.

Both players are expected to make a full recovery and be available for the start of pre-season.