AFLW 2025: New Carlton skipper Abbie McKay on her rise to the role, family ties to navy blue

The McKay name is steeped in Carlton history. Now, Abbie McKay has the chance to make her own history after being elevated to the Blues’ AFLW captaincy. This is how she’ll do it.

Few football people would feel a sense of belonging like Abbie McKay does when she comes in for a day’s work at Princes Park.

McKay grew up running around in the old Carlton building and has spent her whole adult life in the new one, but now her connection to the Blues will run even deeper.

As she processed her appointment as Carlton’s AFLW captain, the 24-year-old daughter of Blues Hall of Famer Andrew McKay cast her mind back to her earliest memories of the club.

“There was this big, long trampoline in the old facility, and me and my siblings used to come into Dad’s work and just run up and down the trampoline,” McKay said.

“We thought it was the best thing ever, and all the players probably looked to us like we were literally the most annoying people alive.

Abbie McKay has been named Carlton’s AFLW captain after growing up around the club as the daughter of premiership hero Andrew McKay. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“We would have been the most annoying little pests running around and getting in everyone’s way, but we just loved it … we thought we were part of the team, and it was awesome.”

McKay was there with her dad and her younger sister and new teammate, Sophie, to ring the “old Blue bell” before the historic first AFLW game between Carlton and Collingwood at Princes Park.

Just over 18 months later, she was pulling on a Carlton jumper as the first ever father-daughter draft selection in competition history.

A. McKay returns to the team sheet in 2019.

Enjoy what's to come from Abbie McKay. 👇🏼#AFLWDraft#BoundByBluepic.twitter.com/d1gNosiSWh

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) October 23, 2018

McKay said an arduous journey to cement herself as a member of the Blues’ best side had given her important perspective that would help her look out for the fringe players as captain.

“It’s honestly crazy to think about. When I first came to the club, I was kind of a shy little girl,” she said.

“I didn’t really know footy too well, and I just came knowing Carlton as a club, but probably not as a football team.

Abbie (right) clinging onto her dad Andrew McKay, with younger brother Charlie on the left. Picture: Supplied

Abbie McKay will captain her younger sister, Sophie (right), who was taken as a father-daughter selection with pick 17 in last year’s draft. Picture: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images

“I think I played four games in my first two years and had to grind away and work really hard at my craft to make myself a solid spot in the team.

“So you know, I’ve kind of seen the hard side of footy and the downs that often come that people probably don’t think about.

“I think that helps me on the empathetic side, and understanding where a lot of the young players are at.”

Blues coach Mathew Buck said McKay, who shared the vice-captaincy with Mimi Hill last season, had been voted in as outright leader by her peers.

The leadership change came after longtime skipper Kerryn Peterson was placed on the inactive list as she prepares to welcome her first child towards the start of the upcoming season.

Congratulatory messages from the McKay family had been muted so far, Abbie joked.

“So far (Andrew) has just said: ‘you’ve got to be captain 15 games to beat where I was’ … so that’s the goal so far,” she said.

McKay will lead Carlton into an AFLW game for the first time in the season opener against Collingwood at Ikon Park on Thursday, August 14. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“But he just said to ‘be yourself’. I obviously got the position for a reason, so stay true to yourself, and like ‘Bucky’ said, make sure you still focus on being a good player, because that’s what’s important on game day.”

As far as good players go, McKay is among a quartet of young Carlton on-ballers – Hill, Maddy Guerin and reigning best and fairest Keeley Sherar – who the Blues believe are on course to become one of the best midfield units in the game.

There’s still no fixture, but the Carlton leaders know making a statement against Collingwood in their August 14 season opener – a callback to that inaugural game – could kickstart a run towards a long-awaited return to finals action.

“I just want to make sure that we’re lifting everyone up – I want everyone to run out thinking they’re the best player on the team … that’s my goal,” McKay said.

“I just want to make sure everyone feels as confident as possible.

“I rang the bell with Dad and Sophie (at the inaugural game) as the girls ran out. So to think that history is repeating itself and I’ll be the one at the front running through that banner is pretty cool.”