Carlton has a “rooster problem” with Coleman medallists Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow coexisting in the same forward line, according to Demons great Garry Lyon.
While Curnow has enjoyed a strong start to the season with 10 goals — the third-most in the AFL this season — McKay has struggled with just two majors on the board through three games.
It includes McKay taking a total of just eight shots at goal with 25 per cent accuracy in front of the big sticks, being held goalless against GWS on the weekend for only the second time in the last two campaigns.
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“They’ve got a rooster problem … you’ve got two big dog roosters who’ve both won Coleman medals, and this is where the problem is, they’re getting into each other’s space,” Lyon said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch while highlighting vision of the pair intruding on each other against the Giants.
“Charlie has had moments this year where he’s looked electric … Harry has kicked two (goals) and he’s looking at the other rooster saying: ‘Listen, when it was my patch, I was a Coleman medallist’.”
McKay won his Coleman Medal in 2021 with 58 goals in a season when Curnow was limited to just four games due to injury.
Then last year, McKay regressed back to 45 goals when Curnow returned and became the focal point of Carlton’s attack — kicking a league-best 64 majors.
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Lyon believes the Blues’ issue largely comes down to structure as opposed to form, saying “I didn’t any great system.”
“Harry’s biggest opponent right now ain’t the bloke that goes and plays on him, it’s Charlie and the way they work together and whether they work for each other,” the former Melbourne skipper added.
“When you’re talking (Brodie) Grundy and (Max) Gawn, two All-Australian ruckmen and (questioning) how that’s going to work.
“Hey, you’ve got two Coleman medallists, how’s that going to work? It gets dangerous if there’s not enough space. So they’ve got to try and sort that out.”
The Blues will look to win their third-straight game when they face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Good Friday.
