Collingwood v Carlton: Blues coach Michael Voss coy on Harry McKay’s return ahead of massive AFL match
Carlton coach Michael Voss has shut down questions around Harry McKay’s availability as the star forward is set to miss a third-straight game due to personal reasons.
McKay has missed the last two weeks, with Voss confirming last week the left-footer needed time out from playing in the AFL.
Carlton had previously ruled McKay out of facing Hawthorn due to unspecified illness, later confirmed it was mental-health related.
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Generally, only the players who are preparing to play in a match the next day will take part in such a session.
“I probably won’t go into the ‘H’ stuff,” Voss said earlier on Wednesday when asked about McKay’s availability.
“I think the important thing for us is that we don’t get into dialogue weekly about where he’s at.
“I think we’ve been pretty sound on our position as a club, that when he’s named in the team he’ll be ready to go.”
When pressed if he knew whether McKay would be ready, Voss repeated his previous answer.
“I think as an industry, we have been really supportive, and I think for us that that’s where we need to stay right now,” Voss added.
After a 0-3 start to the season, Carlton’s clash with their arch-rivals shapes as one of the most important matches of Voss’s four-year tenure at Ikon Park.
Small forward Will White will make his AFL debut, just 38 days after being signed to Carlton’s list as a replacement for No.3 draft pick Jagga Smith, who suffered an ACL injury in the pre-season.
After letting Matt Owies go to West Coast in the off-season, the Blues have struggled for goals out of their small forwards.
Carlton had just four goal-kickers - Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Lewis Young and Jesse Motlop - in last Friday night’s loss against the Western Bulldogs.
Elijah Hollands, who took personal leave on the eve of the season, will make his comeback via Carlton’s VFL team this weekend.
“Elijah’s been able to take some time away from the club, but I guess over the last little while he’s had more presence within our program,” Voss said.
“I guess how he finds his way back into the team is by putting in a solid performance.”
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