The “vulnerability” struggling Carlton star Harry McKay has shown in addressing his goalkicking woes has been lauded by coach Michael Voss, who has backed McKay to turn around his form.
McKay has kicked 14.16 from 41 shots at goal this season and the former Coleman medallist has been the source of much criticism, with calls for him to be moved up the ground, into the ruck or even dropped to the VFL as the Blues battle to score.
Speaking publicly about his challenges on Wednesday on the Ben and Harry podcast he hosts with his twin brother, McKay said it was difficult seeing friends, family and coaches worry about his form and acknowledged the Blues would have beaten Sydney last Friday night if he had converted key set shots.
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“After the game, seeing parents, like seeing Mum’s face – she wears it, Dad wears it. Ash Hansen, our forwards coach, he wears it because of what I’m doing,” McKay said.
“I don’t necessarily think that’s fair – Vossy wears it and gets asked about it flat out because of what I’m not doing well at the moment.”
On Thursday morning, ahead of a must-win clash with Melbourne on Friday night for Carlton to keep its finals hopes alive, Voss said he was impressed the key forward could talk about his problems so openly.
He also said simplicity would be the key to McKay finding his rhythm again.
“I think it speaks more to his vulnerability that he’s prepared to have those conversations,” Voss said.
“The fact he’s in a space to feel safe enough to be able to share that – I think it takes an enormous amount of courage to be able to share that.
“The collective world has had a view on his goalkicking technique, and all I’ll say to that is sometimes simplicity is better than complexity.”
Voss said he was not considering using McKay in the ruck to ease the pressure on his goalkicking, preferring to “step into” his problems and tackle them head on.
“These moments – sometimes there might be a need to step away from those,” Voss said.
“I guess my experience over a long time is to step into those and just keep reinforcing what he needs to be able to do and keep backing that in, and he’ll make the adjustments needed.”
Voss said Tom De Koning would step into the No.1 ruck role for the Blues in Marc Pittonet’s absence due to a broken hand, with Jack Silvagni to be recalled to provide support.
He confirmed captain Patrick Cripps would play after getting through training on Wednesday following a rolled ankle against the Swans.
