AFL: Carlton’s Harry McKay lauds positivity of co-captain Sam Docherty

Carlton forward Harry McKay is relishing the Blues’ new era under coach Michael Voss as co-captain Sam Docherty continues to inspire his teammates.

Carlton co-captain Sam Docherty at training as he continues his recovery from testicular cancer (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Reigning Coleman medallist Harry McKay is desperate for Carlton to break through next season to accompany his personal ascension in the game.

McKay delivered on his potential this year with an AFL-most and career-best 58 goals but the Blues again failed to make the finals, resulting in coach David Teague’s sacking.

Now under Michael Voss and with recruits Adam Cerra and George Hewett in tow, the Blues have started pre-season determined to finally make their mark.

McKay is fighting fit again after season-ending shoulder surgery.

“The main thing (for me) is team success. Obviously, it was a challenging year last year,” McKay said.

“As much as individually I had some good growth, it was empty, to a degree, because we weren’t playing good footy as a team.

Harry McKay is fighting fit after season-ending shoulder surgery. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“My pure focus is on making sure we’re playing really good footy as a team and that connection out on the field is really strong.”

Carlton hopes to get more out of McKay’s forward partner-in-crime Charlie Curnow in 2022 after a nagging knee issue kept him to only four games across the past 2½ seasons.

Curnow played those matches in the final month of this football year and is moving “fantastically well”, according to McKay.

High-priced recruit Zac Williams is another keen to redeem himself for an underwhelming first season at Ikon Park.

“I guess, for Zac, it was a challenging year coming across – and it was a challenging year for us all,” McKay said.

“But Zac’s really motivated to play his best footy in 2022, as we all are in the team, so he’s come back in a really positive attitude and really keen to get to work.”

Helping Williams’ cause is Voss’ mantra of effectively giving the playing group a chance to start afresh.

“Vossy has been really big on kind of a clean slate, so not looking back too much into the past and (just starting) on day one and then making opinions from there,” McKay said.

“That’s been really good for the group because there are no kind of opinions from the past or anything like that.

“The guys who are training well and putting their hands up will get rewarded and play and go from there, so it’s been really good.”

The Blues are hoping for more out of Charlie Curnow. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

McKay also praised how positive Sam Docherty had been as he recovered from a second battle with testicular cancer. Docherty was on the training track on Monday 12 weeks after he underwent chemotherapy.

“Doc’s going really well – it’s just amazing to have him around. He’s such a positive person,” he said.

“The amount of stuff he’s been through and for him to show up every day with a smile on his face and be a really shining light for the group is amazing.

“It’s a credit to him to show up every time, but he’s recovering really well.

“Hopefully, within the next few weeks he can start running and joining back in the group. It’s an amazing result and we’re all so proud of him.”

Originally published as AFL: Carlton’s Harry McKay lauds positivity of co-captain Sam Docherty