Essendon defender Ben McKay was on the receiving end of jeers from Bombers supporters during Saturday’s defeat to the Brisbane Lions.
Bombers fans at Marvel Stadium cheered sarcastically when McKay took a mark deep in defensive 50, winning a contest against Lions debutant Cody Curtin in the fourth quarter.
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“Not sure that was a positive cheer,” former West Coast coach Adam Simpson said in commentary on Kayo Sports.
“Bit of a whipping boy today. Hasn’t done a lot wrong.”
The Bombers showed some promising signs in the second quarter but the Lions showed they were a class above in the second half, racing away to claim a 64-point win.
It came after a whiteboard of Brisbane’s analysis of Essendon players identified McKay as “low on confidence” and with no strengths.
McKay claimed 23 disposals and 11 marks in Essendon’s win over Melbourne, but has otherwise had an underwhelming 2026 campaign.
“You don’t like it,” Essendon coach Brad Scott said of the Bronx cheers.
“It’s an abnormal footy environment. But that’s going to happen and it’s happened at other clubs, it’s happened to other players and you’ve got to fight through it.
McKay kept debutant Cody Curtin goalless, but as Essendon conceded 22 total goals he remained largely unsighted with five disposals and two marks.
“He played on an opponent who didn’t kick a goal,” said Brad Scott.
“He did his job from that perspective.
“There’s no point trying to shield guys away from the pressure cooker that AFL footy is.”
McKay has become a maligned player given his lucrative front-ended contract at the Bombers, which made him one of the AFL’s highest paid players in 2024.
Scott alluded to the fact that a VFL spell is on the horizon for McKay, who is notably contracted until 2029.
“We’re working with him, but at the minute, we’re a bit – (Mason) Redman out, (Jordan) Ridley out, we’re, if you look at our VFL defence this week there’s not really a key defender who’s ready to play.
Mason Redman hasn’t played AFL since suffering a knee injury in Round 2, but recorded 13 disposals and 4 marks in today’s VFL clash against Williamstown.
“Redman will be back sooner rather than later and (Nick) Bryan’s back, that’ll certainly help our ruck options and hopefully we’ll have some ability to make some changes there if we need to.
Scott said he won’t “put his head in the sand” in relation to the fans’ perception of McKay, but in turn, will focus on supporting his players.
“I’m just going to focus on what I need to focus on and that’s supporting the players, which I’ll do relentlessly, but I’m also not going to be an ostrich and put my head in the sand either.
“It’s always the easiest thing in the world to sort of suggest changes, but who goes out’s easy – who comes in is the hard bit.”
– With NewsWire
