‘Happy to be here’: Ben McKay enjoying footy again and claims big win over former team

Essendon defender Ben McKay tells JAY CLARK he’s happy to be at the Bombers after seeing eight wins in eight years at the Roos, while recording a big win over his former team.

Ben McKay gets the win in his first clash with former team North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

Essendon star defender Ben McKay says he has rediscovered his love for the game at Tullamarine after trouncing his old club by 40 points at Marvel Stadium.

The Bombers are stalking their first finals win in two decades after surging into the top-two with a second-half goal rush to brush off McKay’s former club.

The loss leaves the winless Roos languishing in last spot as they prepare to take on former No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis and the Power in Hobart on Saturday.

McKay, who kept close mate Nick Larkey to one goal on Sunday, said he was loving his fresh start in red and black after just eight wins in 71 matches at North.

The stopper, who caught up with some of his former teammates for a meal together last week, credited defensive coach Ben Jacobs for helping him “get my love back for the game”.

Ben McKay has refound his love for the game after his fresh start at Tullamarine. Picture: Michael Klein

“I just think eight years at North, I have always loved my time there, but when you are not winning as many games as you would like it does get tough,” McKay said.

“I feel for the boys across in the other change rooms.

“They try their hearts out every week and sometimes the results don’t come.

“Swapping clubs was an important phase of my life to get re-energised again and get back to enjoying footy again to a degree and enjoying the process again as much as anything.

“Brad (Scott) is huge on that and I am happy to be here.”

McKay has re-established his reputation as one of the best key defenders in the game at Essendon as they attempt to continue the pain for Richmond in the Dreamtime clash at the MCG.

Essendon already has seven wins and a draw for the season, meaning the club may only need five more victories from the remaining 13 matches to secure a finals berth.

The club will tackle Richmond, West Coast and St Kilda as part of the run home and will remain in Victoria for 11 of their last 13 matches.

Ben McKay has once again established himself as one of the competition’s key defenders. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

McKay said Scott has made sure there was little threat of becoming complacent after laying the foundation for a finals berth.

“It is a platform (for September) isn’t it,” McKay said.

“We take it week by week, but I couldn’t be more proud of how Brad disassociates from the ladder, and I have never really seen that before.

“It is so easy to get caught up in the ladder every now and then but the ability to bring it back to our process and our moment has been brilliant.

“Brad will always bring us back if we get ahead of ourselves.”

It is the first time since 2013 Essendon has been in the top two at Round 10. The club was booted out of the finals series due to the supplement saga and stripped of top draft picks in 2013.

Having re-emerged under second-year coach Scott, McKay said he was “grateful” to be playing in “big games in front of big crowds” with another marquee clash in front of a packed house against the Tigers up next.

Ben McKay up against his former teammate and mate, Nick Larkey. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The backman said it was odd to play against some of his best mates and was “dirty” for dropping some early marks in his match-up on Larkey.

“They weren’t edgy or chirpy or anything like that, they were just playing the footy which you would expect,” he said.

“It was a bit strange, but they were my teammates and I wish them all the best.

“I have so much respect for big ‘Souv’ he is someone I have kept in contact with. I rate him as one of the top key forwards in the game.

“I couldn’t catch a cold in the first half, I dropped about five or six, so maybe I needed some more grippo.

“It was a good challenge for me to battle with Larks and get involved in the air and offensively as well.”

Originally published as ‘Happy to be here’: Ben McKay enjoying footy again and claims big win over former team