Ben McKay (footballer) explained

Ben McKay
Fullname:Ben McKay
Birth Date:24 December 1997
Birth Place:Torquay
Originalteam:Gippsland Power (TAC Cup)/Warragul
Draftpick:No. 21, 2015 national draft
Debutdate:Round 23, 2017
Debutstadium:the Gabba
Height:202 cm
Weight:104 kg
Position:Defender
Guernsey:32
Years1:2016–2023
Games Goals1:71 (1)
Years2:2024–
Games Goals2:14 (0)
Games Goalstotal:85(1)
Statsend:round 10, 2024

Ben McKay (born 24 December 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was initially drafted to the North Melbourne Football Club.

Early life

McKay grew up in the Victorian town of Warragul in Gippsland. He played local football for Warragul Football Club.[1]

He attended school at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar.[2]

Growing up he supported Essendon, the club he would later end up playing for.

AFL career

He was drafted by North Melbourne with their first selection and twenty-first overall in the 2015 national draft.[3] He made his debut in the fifty-one point win against the at the Gabba in round twenty-three of the 2017 season.[4] In February 2019, Ben signed a two-year contract extension keeping him at the Kangaroos until at least the end of 2021.[5]

Taking time to develop, Ben McKay found consistency at AFL level, playing 11 games in the backline in the 2020 season. A great contested mark and busy player under pressure, McKay continued his form into 2021.

McKay moved to as a restricted free agent in October 2023.[6]

Family

He is the identical twin brother of 's Harry McKay.[7] In round 13 of the 2024 season, they played against each other for the first time in their careers. Before this game, they had never played one another, despite having been in the league for seven years; often as a result of one of the two being suspended or withdrawn late with injury[8] – leading to internet jokes that they are the same player running a fake twin gambit.[9] Ben (and Harry) are also cousins with former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne player, Stuart Cochrane.Stuart’s mothers maiden name is McKay.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to Round 24, 2023[10]

|- | scope="row" text-align:center | 2017| | 23 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 7 || 9 || 1 || 3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 7.0 || 9.0 || 1.0 || 3.0|- style="background:#EAEAEA"| scope="row" text-align:center | 2018| | 23 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|- | scope="row" text-align:center | 2019| | 23 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 11 || 10 || 21 || 10 || 4 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 3.7 || 3.3 || 7.0 || 3.3 || 1.3 |- style="background:#EAEAEA"| scope="row" text-align:center | 2020| | 23 || 11 || 0 || 0 || 43 || 59 || 102 || 36 || 18 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.9 || 5.4 || 9.3 || 3.3 || 1.6 |- | scope="row" text-align:center | 2021| | 23 || 22 || 0 || 0 || 99 || 111 || 210 || 95 || 31 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.6 || 5.9 || 10.5 || 5.9 || 1.5 |- style="background:#EAEAEA"| scope="row" text-align:center | 2022| | 23 || 15 || 1 || 0 || 92 || 47 || 139 || 82 || 18 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.9 || 5.4 || 9.3 || 3.3 || 1.6 |- | scope="row" text-align:center | 2023| | 23 || 19 || 0 || 0 || 146 || 86 || 232 || 113 || 12 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.6 || 5.9 || 10.5 || 5.9 || 1.5 |- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career ! 71! 1! 1! 393! 320! 713! 337! 89! 0.0! 0.1! 4.0! 5.4! 9.4! 3.5! 1.6|}

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harry and Ben McKay have talent spotters looking twice ahead of AFL national draft . 2024-03-21 . amp.theage.com.au.
  2. Web site: High Performance Program . 2024-03-21 . St Paul's Anglican Grammar School . en-US.
  3. News: Roos plan on developing Ben McKay into long-term replacement for Drew Petrie. Bowen. Nick. 24 November 2015. AFL.com.au. Bigpond. 21 October 2017.
  4. News: North Melbourne emphatically end tanking talk with big win over Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. Hamilton. Andrew. 26 August 2017. The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. 21 October 2017.
  5. Web site: McKay re-commits to North. nmfc.com.au. en. 2019-09-19.
  6. AFLHouse. 1711584851047129500. 10 October 2023. North Melbourne have elected to not match the offer and Ben McKay is now able to join Essendon immediately. North Melbourne are to receive a Round One compensation pick (currently pick 3)..
  7. News: Sibling rivalry to reach another level after McKay twins get drafted. Larkin. Steve. 24 November 2015. AFL.com.au. Bigpond. 21 October 2017.
  8. Web site: Will Harry ever meet Ben? The curious case of the McKay twins. 27 April 2022. 6 May 2022. Australian Football League.
  9. Web site: Blues' McKay fuels fire on social media. 30 April 2022. 6 May 2022. Zero Hanger.
  10. Web site: Ben McKay. AFL Tables. 21 July 2019.