Harry McKay kicks Blues to clutch win; Lions fear injured Coleman will miss season

CARLTON 13.8 (86) d BRISBANE 12.13 (85)

Harry McKay.Credit: Channel 7

KEY POINTS

McKay takes the points

Harry McKay may cause Blues fans more heartburn than any other player, but how much of it is recency bias? He was a Coleman medallist only two seasons ago. On this night, he was again overshadowed by the heroics of Charlie Curnow, who dragged Carlton back into the game with an explosive third quarter. But McKay was terrific – particularly as he played the whole game on Harris Andrews. The pair fought an absorbing struggle, with Andrews taking seven marks and McKay seven, each enjoying patches of dominance. McKay’s second goal to give the Blues back the lead, late in the third quarter, was nerveless. His mark and goal to win the match was the stuff of dreams for Blues fans.

Williams makes a difference

It’s been a very long eighteen months for Zac Williams, who hasn’t played a game since Collingwood ended Carlton’s season in round 23 of 2022. His return from injury has been long awaited, both by fans and coach Michael Voss, who became emotional talking about his return to the field this week. Williams quickly reminded everyone why he was missed. His raking kicks gained a mountain of territory for his side, including one bomb that cleared a pack and fell into the arms of Curnow for the first of his goals. And he was a vital part of Carlton’s surge back into the contest when all looked lost. He had 19 disposals and he’s a virtual new recruit.

Lions fear Coleman has done ACL

Of all the players to lose in round one, the Lions would be terribly disappointed by the injury to Keidean “Kiddy” Coleman. In the preliminary final last year, Coleman cut the Blues apart with his kicking, and he polled Norm Smith Medal votes the following week against Collingwood. So when Lachie Fogarty fell across his knee in the dying seconds of the second quarter, there was a collective intake of breath. The preliminary diagnosis was just a hyperextension but post game it was revealed the club fears Coleman will miss the rest of the season. “He will get a scan tomorrow,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said. “But at this stage it’s not looking great. It looks like an ACL. “We haven’t had much luck with ACLs, Hipwood, Rayner. Ashie last year and now Kiddy tonight. “It’s not confirmed but more than likely that is what we think. We get disappointed for all the lads that get those injuries because we know the road back is a long road back. It’ll create an opportunity for someone else, which will be there good fortune. If it goes the way we think, we’re sad for Kiddy.”

FINAL STATS

Thanks so much for joining us this evening as Carlton won an instant classic over the Brisbane Lions.

Harry McKay’s winner and the Blues comeback will create plenty of excitement in the days to come while no one will be writing off the Lions either, their first half was exceptional.

Thanks to Andrew Stafford, Scott Spits and Rob Sharp for all their work tonight, we will be back with our AFL Saturday live blog tomorrow afternoon, so please join us then.

Bye for now.

Adam Saad celebrates the win.Credit: Getty Images

Blues coach Michael Voss hopes Harry McKay’s performances and not his kicking will be in the spotlight after tonight’s match-winning performance.

“He took his moment and he wanted it,” Voss said.

“When you find yourself in those situations, you wants guys who want ball in their hands. He well and truly presented that way the whole night. And at the end, he was involved in that contest and he finishes the play. I get a bit sick and tired of hearing that nit-picking, I am over it. We can be better than that.

The. Blues celebrate a goal.Credit: Getty Images

“Harry works on his game enormously hard and has had a fantastic pre-season. He has been in unbelievable form. I think that we should be talking about that.”

Voss also praised the Blues for regaining the momentum after falling 46 points behind.

“In the second quarter we started to get our game going,” Voss said.

“It wasn’t all there. We made so many mistakes and almost giving the ball back to them when you get stuck in your back it is hard to defend. Especially with Brisbane’s firepower, to live in their half.

“We were able to work our way through that, we started to get the ball more in our half and started to live there for a bit longer and we were able to turn the result around. We had seven or eight minutes in the second quarter and hanging our hat on that going into the break and doubled down on that message and thought that was the formula to bring to the second half.

“It shows what momentum do in footy. When you have got it, it is hard to stop it.”

Lions coach Chris Fagan has revealed the club fears Keidean “Kiddy” Coleman has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season.

It’s not confirmed but Fagan said all signs pointed to this being the case.

“He will get a scan tomorrow,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said.

“But at this stage it’s not looking great. It looks like an ACL.

“We haven’t had much luck with ACLs, Hipwood, Rayner. Ashie last year and now Kiddy tonight.

“It’s not confirmed but more than likely that is what we think.”

Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps has praised the “humility” shown by Harry McKay to go and fix his goal-kicking technique during the offseason.

“I’m so happy for him,” Cripps told Fox Footy.

“He’s put so much work in. He went and changed up his technique a little bit. He kicked a massive goal in a massive moment and it’s what we love to see from him.

Harry McKay and Patrick Cripps (left) celebrate a goal.Credit: AFL Photos

“In footy, you have your lessons and losing can teach you some lessons. He had one last year where he needed to address a few things. He went away and it takes humility to do that, he got to work and you saw it tonight.

“He only kicked three or four [3.1] but he looked so confident there and he’s looked confident all preseason.

“I know there is a lot of commentary around it but when there is commentary, you have to give him his flowers too and he deserves them tonight.”

CARLTON 13.8 (86) d BRISBANE 12.13 (85)

Harry McKay.Credit: Channel 7

KEY POINTS

McKay takes the points

Harry McKay may cause Blues fans more heartburn than any other player, but how much of it is recency bias? He was a Coleman medallist only two seasons ago. On this night, he was again overshadowed by the heroics of Charlie Curnow, who dragged Carlton back into the game with an explosive third quarter. But McKay was terrific – particularly as he played the whole game on Harris Andrews. The pair fought an absorbing struggle, with Andrews taking seven marks and McKay seven, each enjoying patches of dominance. McKay’s second goal to give the Blues back the lead, late in the third quarter, was nerveless. His mark and goal to win the match was the stuff of dreams for Blues fans.

Williams makes a difference

It’s been a very long eighteen months for Zac Williams, who hasn’t played a game since Collingwood ended Carlton’s season in round 23 of 2022. His return from injury has been long awaited, both by fans and coach Michael Voss, who became emotional talking about his return to the field this week. Williams quickly reminded everyone why he was missed. His raking kicks gained a mountain of territory for his side, including one bomb that cleared a pack and fell into the arms of Curnow for the first of his goals. And he was a vital part of Carlton’s surge back into the contest when all looked lost. He had 19 disposals and he’s a virtual new recruit.

Lions fear Coleman has done ACL

Of all the players to lose in round one, the Lions would be terribly disappointed by the injury to Keidean “Kiddy” Coleman. In the preliminary final last year, Coleman cut the Blues apart with his kicking, and he polled Norm Smith Medal votes the following week against Collingwood. So when Lachie Fogarty fell across his knee in the dying seconds of the second quarter, there was a collective intake of breath. The preliminary diagnosis was just a hyperextension but post game it was revealed the club fears Coleman will miss the rest of the season. “He will get a scan tomorrow,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said. “But at this stage it’s not looking great. It looks like an ACL. “We haven’t had much luck with ACLs, Hipwood, Rayner. Ashie last year and now Kiddy tonight. “It’s not confirmed but more than likely that is what we think. We get disappointed for all the lads that get those injuries because we know the road back is a long road back. It’ll create an opportunity for someone else, which will be there good fortune. If it goes the way we think, we’re sad for Kiddy.”

FINAL STATS

Charlie Curnow has taken the chance to speak up for his big mate Harry McKay and those who called him out for missing too many of his shots for goal.

McKay made a huge pressure shot with just under a minute to go, kicking what proved to be the winning goal.

Harry McKay.Credit: Getty Images

“Back to big H, he put the media to sleep a little bit [with that kick]. Well done H,” Curnow told Channel Seven.

McKay laughed and thanked his good mate for standing up for him.

McKay said he had worked on trusting his technique and his goal-kicking process.

“I want to be in those moments and there are nerves but sticking to your process and backing yourself in and as long as you commit, it doesn’t matter the result. I’m glad it went through,” McKay said.

That was a win for the ages from the Blues who hadn’t won at the Gabba in more than a decade, now they have the victory and a statement win at that.

The Blues aren’t going too crazy either. They are smiling and shaking hands but know they have a long season to go.

Charlie Curnow and Oliver Hollands celebrate a goal.Credit: Getty Images

The Blues have won.

Harry McKay was the hero but their whole team stood tall after being 46 points down in the first half.

Harry McKay.Credit: Getty Images