Career : AFLW 2019 -
Debut : Round 4 2019 vs Geelong
Carlton Player No. 48
Games : 51 *
Goals : 7 *
Guernsey No.: 5
Height : 171 cm (5' 6")
DOB : November 15, 2000
McKay will go down in the history of the AFL Women’s competition, as the first-ever father-daughter recruit. The midfielder will be looking to make her own mark in the footsteps of her dad: former Carlton captain, Andrew McKay. Previously of the Sandringham Dragons, McKay spends a lot of her time through the midfield, although is adept at both ends of the ground. Her impending debut will be a memorable day for the McKay family and all Bluebaggers.
McKay hoping for homecoming
Two years ago, Abbie McKay and her family rang the bell to signal the first AFLW game in history between Carlton and Collingwood. On Saturday, McKay could be running out in her second game with her beloved Navy Blues to take on the Pies. “To actually be the person running out, it’ll be surreal,” McKay told reporters at Ikon Park on Monday. McKay became the first father-daughter in the history of the game on Saturday, and she wasn’t fazed by the occasion. In a composed debut at the Cattery, McKay collected seven disposals and laid two tackles in the narrow defeat. McKay said the fact her father Andrew McKay is a Carlton Hall of Famer made her first game all the sweeter. “Just to pull on the navy blue in general is such an honour. To do it when your dad has previously played... it’s pretty surreal,” she said. “I could hear all my friends and family screaming ‘go Abbie’ as I was running out. That was probably the best moment.” But as for the advice Dad gave on her debut, it was fairly simple. “Dad tends to stay out of it a fair bit. He just says have fun, go in hard (and) do your best,” she said. Unfortunately, McKay’s fairy-tale debut wasn’t to be, as the Blues rued missed opportunities to go down by five points to Geelong. McKay said that the team didn’t perform to its expected standard. “We didn’t play our best and we deserved what we got,” she said. “We can only go up from here and we’re looking forward to playing Collingwood this week.” The Blues went into the game at the top of Conference B, but the loss resulted in Carlton slipping back to third behind Brisbane and Geelong. However, if the Blues are triumphant on Saturday they will likely return to the top two, given the Lions and Cats face off this week. It’s undeniable the game will be a special occasion for the McKay family. Saturday could be McKay’s first game on home soil – and the game is against none other than the arch-rival. However, McKay believes the team will be treating the game against Collingwood like they do any other week. “I think we try to just think of it as just another game,” she said. “We don’t want to have massive highs and lows, we just want to stay equal between all the teams.” - Tennyson Tinning
McKay receives Rising Star nod
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/863430/mckay-receives-rising-star-nod
Recruited from Prahran (Vic)/Sandringham U18/Carlton (VFLW).
Milestones
50 Games: Round 9 2024 vs Western Bulldogs.Career Highlights
2021 – AFLW Rising Star Nominees - Round 3, 20212021 - Initial 40-person AFLW Players Association Under 22 squad: Midfielder.
2022a - 2nd Best and Fairest
2023 - 2nd Best and Fairest
2023 - Most Valuable Bluebagger
2024 - 2nd Best and Fairest