Gippsland Power, Vic Country, Carlton: 10 years on, Harry McKay and Ben Ainsworth are once again teammates.

By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media

IT WAS a message from Jacob Weitering which broke the news to Harry McKay.

“It was ‘Weiters’ who texted me saying ‘how good that we got Benny Ainsworth’… I had to look at my phone and see what was going on.”

Caught slightly unawares by the news, McKay was nonetheless delighted that Ainsworth indeed did make his way to IKON Park, as former teammates from Gippsland Power and Vic Country in 2015.

In fairness to big Harry, he wasn’t the only one surprised by the speed of the deal. Ainsworth’s commitment to Carlton and the subsequent three-way trade involving Gold Coast and Port Adelaide seemed to catch some in the footy world off-guard – a rarity in trade period nowadays.

Originally from Warragul, McKay was pumped that the Morwell product would be joining him in Navy Blue.

“I was pumped, I think he’s a perfect acquisition for us and he’ll had a lot of value. I can’t wait to play with him in the forward line, he’s been a very consistent player for Gold Coast.

“Any time you can bring quality people in and quality footballers, it’s a great thing.”

In 2015, McKay and Ainsworth played a lot of footy together. In his bottom-age year, Ainsworth won the Gippsland Power best and fairest as McKay produced a form line which ultimately saw him taken at pick No.10 in the draft.

They were also mainstays in the forward line for Vic Country which went onto win the National Carnival.

While Ainsworth was part of the talent league and rep teams from the outset according to McKay, the big man underwent a different trajectory, playing local football for Warragul up until 2014 – where a pre-season with the Power set the wheels in motion for the two to be reunited in Navy Blue a decade later.

“Once you play with someone, especially in under-18s, you always have a good connection when you see them after a game. I always watched from afar and enjoyed Benny go about his work.

“Super consistent, he’s barely missed a game in nine year, really skilful and strong in the contest. I remember when we were playing under-18s, he could’ve been a key forward the way he competed overhead.

“A natural footballer that works really hard, has great footy nous – it was good fun playing with him back in the day, I can’t wait.”

‘Ben and Harry’?

“… I’m not sure that’ll stick.”