Carlton Blues seek clarity from prominent commentator David King over Harry McKay knee injury; Collingwood Magpies and star forward Bobby Hill preparing end contract early; Essendon Bombers forward Nate Caddy discharged from hospital; expected to face Hawthorn Hawks
Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL briefing:
- Carlton have sought clarity from prominent commentator David King after he questioned Harry McKay’s pain threshold on Saturday night.
- The Magpies and premiership forward Bobby Hill are set to part ways.
- Essendon star Nate Caddy has been discharged from hospital and is expected to play this week.
Nathan Buckley has opened up about his extreme disappointment on missing out on the gig as the Tasmania Devils’ first senior coach and says the situation has left him at a “fork in the road”.
Buckley, who coached Collingwood to the 2018 grand final, has cast strong doubt that he’ll throw his hat in the ring for two other vacant coaching jobs in the AFL – the next senior coaches at Carlton and Essendon.
“I haven’t really reflected on where those roles sit,” a candid Buckley said on Fox Footy on Monday night – little more than 24 hours after he discovered his Tasmania dream had been dashed.
“And I don’t think I will enter those processes [to coach the Bombers or Blues].
“I’m absolutely focused on the next six to 10 weeks [as an assistant coach] with Geelong and how that plays out.
“I was committed to that [the Tasmania job]. And that [ambition] ended a day ago.”
The dramatic events unfolded in Tasmania on the weekend as the Devils’ board met and settled on Ken Hinkley as their biggest appointment ahead of joining the AFL for the 2028 season.
Buckley said he was informed by Devils CEO Brendon Gale that he had been unsuccessful.
“I heard from Brendon Gale yesterday afternoon with a missed call and then a text because obviously things were moving pretty quickly,” Buckley said.
“I went home, kicked the dog, threw the toys out of the cot, and then woke up this morning and went to my job at Geelong.
“I think it’s taken me a little bit of time to reflect because I was really keen on it. I was in on it.”
Buckley said he would seek feedback from the Tasmania hierarchy – but only at the right time.
“I texted back [to Gale] that ‘I’m disappointed, but thanks for letting me know’. And I’ll come back around and touch base in time [with Tasmania, for some feedback] because it’s obviously a busy time for the Devils,” he said.
“Obviously Kenny is the right fit for Tassie. Good luck to them all, and I hope that that goes really well.
“I’m sure that they’ll be a great fit.”
Buckley said he had no regrets about returning to clubland as an assistant to Geelong premiership coach Chris Scott.
“The future there [at the Cats] for me will inform my next step in footy. I’ve probably wouldn’t have come back in unless I’d looked at Tassie, so it’s a fork in the road,” he said.
“And I’m really grateful for where I’m at, rather than maybe just being on the couch, five years in media, without really knowing what I was doing with footy.
“But now that I’m back in a club – I don’t know what’s next.”
Blues seek clarity from prominent commentator over McKay injury
Jon Pierik
Carlton have sought clarity from prominent commentator David King after he questioned Harry McKay’s pain threshold when the star forward went off injured in Saturday’s loss to Collingwood at the MCG.
King, a dual North Melbourne premiership player and Fox Footy analyst, said on his breakfast radio show on SEN on Monday that the Blues had called him on Sunday to discuss his comments.
“I took the call from Carlton [on Sunday] … and had a lot of [public] feedback about it [his commentary]. Look, my thoughts are my thoughts. I am not necessarily going to back over it too much,” King said.
“I think we have spoken about players that go off a little bit easy in the past. I am not saying that’s Harry on this occasion. Clearly, he has got an issue, and they are telling me he will miss two weeks. I was basically referring to an old Denis Paganism which you will know if you listened to what I said earlier.”
Asked to elaborate, King said: “All good. They [Blues] disagree with what the discussion was about, which is fine. That’s footy. I am happy to move on from that.”
Carlton were contacted for comment.
On Sunday the Blues said McKay would be tested this week and might play against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium next Saturday.
McKay’s night ended care of a knee-on-knee collision with teammate Sam Walsh in the opening term. He struggled to run before he went down to the rooms with a club doctor, and spent the rest of the game on the bench with ice on his left leg.
On Sunday, he was diagnosed with a minor tear of his meniscus, and bone bruising, and could miss a fortnight.
In commentary, King had said: “It looks to me like the docs are saying it’s a pain management issue,” he said.
“‘We know you’re under difficulty and there is some discomfort there, but this is AFL footy, we need you out there’.”
When it became clear McKay would take no further part in the game, King said: “Looks like he’s put a line through himself, putting the jacket on, that’s it, night over. Incredible disappointment. You wonder whether there’s any structural issue there or is it just a pain tolerance discussion?”
“This Harry McKay discussion will rage. There’s nothing worse than when a player of that significance is not there. It changes the whole game.”
In reference to his former coaches, including premiership great Denis Pagan, King said: “My old coaches would say: ‘I hope that’s a two or three-week [injury]. If that’s a 15-20 minute [injury], you lose a lot of respect’.”
Carlton said on the night that McKay had been ruled out by club doctors.
King added at half-time: “If that’s just a bit of pain management then you’ve got a lot more to answer for. I hope that’s not the case with Harry and time will tell.”
McKay, the 2021 Coleman medallist, has battled mental health problems through his career.
In the AFL Players Association’s annual insights and impact report released last week, 34 per cent of players said they felt a level of disrespect by broadcast media. This included concerns about a focus on negativity and hyperbole.
After seven-straight wins under caretaker coach Josh Fraser, the Blues have lost their past two games, against Hawthorn and Collingwood, but remain in contention for a wildcard berth. They host the Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Magpies and star premiership forward preparing to split
Jon Pierik
Collingwood are working towards parting ways with premiership star Bobby Hill.
The 2023 Norm Smith medallist is contracted until the end of 2030 on a deal reportedly worth about $750,000 a season.
Industry sources have confirmed conversations between the Magpies and Hill’s management at Mac’s Sports Promotions are ongoing. The Magpies and Mac’s Sports Management were contacted for comment.
Hill has not played a senior game since round 21 last year, largely because of personal issues.
He had an extended break over summer but was welcomed back into the fold earlier this season. He had been training at suburban grounds with a trainer before returning to the club.
The dynamic small forward has played three VFL games, but has not been a consistent presence at the club.
Coach Craig McRae has repeatedly said he was excited about Hill’s potential return, but there was always the caveat of the unknown.
McRae said in June that Hill was still working through his personal issues.
“Truthfully, battling,” McRae replied when asked about Hill.
“He has a bit going on, let’s be really clear. He has a lot going on. He’s a work in progress, but it’s nice to have him in the building.
“He’s a long way away from playing footy … but again, when he’s in our building, at least we get some opportunities to make him feel that he’s loved and appreciated.”
Hill and his partner Georgia Devlin welcomed their third child in May.
Seven reported on Monday that Hill was keen for a move to the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast or Port Adelaide.
Hill was originally drafted by Greater Western Sydney with pick No.24 in 2018.
He has played 102 senior games across eight seasons.
Bombers confident Caddy will face Hawks
Jon Pierik
Essendon are confident Nate Caddy will be available for selection this week after he was hospitalised with an irregular heart rate during Sunday’s three-point win over Greater Western Sydney.
Caddy was taken to hospital for assessment, having collapsed to the turf when he got to the interchange bench in the first quarter. He had further tests but was given the all clear and discharged on Sunday night.
Essendon’s general manager of football Daniel McPherson said he expected Caddy to train this week ahead of a clash against arch-rival Hawthorn on Saturday.
“There was some concern in the first quarter when Nate’s heart rate became elevated,” McPherson said on Monday.
“He was removed from the game, and our medical team assessed him at the ground before sending him to hospital for further assessment. He was discharged last night and is back at home.
“He is expected to be able to train and play without concern this week.”
Caddy recently signed a contract extension until the end of 2031 in a huge boost for the battling Bombers, who no longer sit in last spot on the ladder.
Wingman Xavier Duursma (hamstring) has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Bombers were able to sing the club song for only the second time in 31 games after edging the shocked Giants. It was their first win since beating Melbourne in Gather Round in Adelaide on April 11, while they had not tasted victory in Victoria since May last year.
It was Dean Solomon’s first win as caretaker coach since replacing Brad Scott in May.
While only 14,601 fans attended the game, the scenes of joy for the Bombers were palpable.
“It’s a bloody good feeling. Our footy club’s been on its knees for a period of time, and the footy world’s jumped on that, and they enjoy us sitting at the bottom,” Solomon said.
“We’ve felt that, and we don’t like that, so to push back a little bit and get one win, albeit one win, I’m just really happy for these players.”
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
