Carlton‘s promising start to the 2022 season has been dealt a major blow with Coleman Medallist Harry McKay set to be sidelined for at least six weeks with a knee injury.
McKay reported some soreness after Carlton’s win over Adelaide on Sunday, with scans confirming a lateral meniscus tear in his knee that will require surgery.
“This news is obviously unfortunate for Harry, given the really strong start to the season he was having both personally and as a leader for our side,” Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd said in a statement on Wednesday.
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“Harry will have the surgery tomorrow morning (Thursday), he’s the ultimate professional so will attack his rehab to be in a position to make an impact when he returns to the side, which at this stage we expect to be around three weeks after the bye.”
The absence of the 24-year-old will leave a gaping hole in Carlton’s forward line after he won the club’s goalkicking with a career-best 58 goals last season.
McKay’s injury comes at an extremely inopportune time for the Blues, whose 6-2 start to the season is their best since the 1996 season.
The Blues have formed an high-powered offensive game plan under new senior coach Michael Voss, with McKay’s combination with the returning Charlie Curnow central to the team’s success.
McKay’s 20 goals through the first eight rounds has him seventh on the AFL’s goal-kicking list, while Curnow’s 25 has him ranked second behind Richmond’s Tom Lynch.