Questions Arise Over Carlton Star’s Puzzling Choice to Play in VFL Match

Collingwood legend Tony Shaw has expressed his confusion over why Carlton’s Harry McKay participated in a full VFL match on Saturday night, rather than playing in Thursday’s showdown against the Magpies.

Since round one, McKay has been absent due to what the club has referred to as “personal issues”.

Carlton is languishing at 0-4, with their season taking a turn for the worse. They still haven’t managed to score more than 80 points in any match, and the duo of McKay and Charlie Curnow have yet to play together this season.

In the club’s VFL defeat to Southport, McKay managed to kick two goals in the third quarter, but his overall impact was minimal.

Shaw believes McKay’s involvement in the VFL has raised more questions than it resolved.

“I don’t understand the logic here,” Shaw remarked on 3AW Football.

“If he’s running around in the reserves, could that be his comfort zone? Is that all he can handle at the moment? It might well be.

“However, it doesn’t make sense to me. The club is investing $1 million a year in this player, and yet he’s competing in the VFL while your main opponent is Collingwood.”

Shaw expressed that he believes the former Coleman Medallist must take to the field if he is physically able.

“There must be more behind it, but they are unlikely to reveal it, which leaves us with lingering questions that will persist,” said the 1990 premiership captain.

“In my opinion, when he’s fit, he is undoubtedly one of the top five players in that team, and he needs to be on the field.”

“He could act as a decoy. Currently, Charlie Curnow is facing three defenders at a time, and he’s the recipient of a lot of the ball. Brodie Kemp is performing decently, but they need McKay in the mix.”

Richmond legend Matthew Richardson has a different perspective, suggesting that McKay’s personal concerns might be similar to any typical factors that would warrant a player running in the reserves.

“At times, a player may be overlooked for selection due to form, perhaps they are not selecting him because of these personal matters at the moment,” Richardson noted.

“They want him to gain some match fitness in the VFL.”

In Round 5, Carlton will encounter West Coast in a meeting of two winless teams during the Gather Round.