Ben McKay (footballer)

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.

Ben McKay
Personal information
Full name Ben McKay
Date of birth (1997-12-24) 24 December 1997
Place of birth Torquay
Original team(s) Gippsland Power (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 21, 2015 national draft
Debut Round 23, 2017, North Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions, at the Gabba
Height 202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 104 kg (229 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current club Essendon
Number 30
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2016–2023 North Melbourne 71 (1)
2024– Essendon 0 (0)
Total 71 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2023.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career

He was drafted by North Melbourne with their first selection and twenty-first overall in the 2015 national draft.[1] He made his debut in the fifty-one point win against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round twenty-three of the 2017 season.[2] In February 2019, Ben signed a two-year contract extension keeping him at the Kangaroos until at least the end of 2021.[3]

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 Essendon as a restricted free agent in October 2023.[4]

Family

He is the identical twin brother of Carlton's Harry McKay.[5] As of 2023, the two are yet to play an AFL game against each other despite seven years in the league, often as a result of one of the two being suspended or withdrawn late with injury[6] – leading to internet jokes that they are the same player running a fake twin gambit.[7]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to Round 24, 2023[8]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2017 North Melbourne 23100279130.00.02.07.09.01.03.0
2018 North Melbourne 23———————————————
2019 North Melbourne 233011110211040.00.33.73.37.03.31.3
2020 North Melbourne 231100435910236180.00.03.95.49.33.31.6
2021 North Melbourne 2322009911121095310.00.04.65.910.55.91.5
2022 North Melbourne 231510924713982180.00.03.95.49.33.31.6
2023 North Melbourne 23190014686232113120.00.04.65.910.55.91.5
Career 71 1 1 393 320 713 337 89 0.0 0.1 4.0 5.4 9.4 3.5 1.6

References
  1. Bowen, Nick (24 November 2015). "Roos plan on developing Ben McKay into long-term replacement for Drew Petrie". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  2. Hamilton, Andrew (26 August 2017). "North Melbourne emphatically end tanking talk with big win over Brisbane Lions at the Gabba". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. "McKay re-commits to North". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  4. @AFLHouse (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)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. Larkin, Steve (24 November 2015). "Sibling rivalry to reach another level after McKay twins get drafted". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  6. "Will Harry ever meet Ben? The curious case of the McKay twins". Australian Football League. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  7. "Blues' McKay fuels fire on social media". Zero Hanger. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. "Ben McKay". AFL Tables. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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