Interim Carlton coach Josh Fraser has defended key forward Harry McKay amid the club’s stoush with high-profile AFL commentator David King.
King drew the ire of the Blues while commentating their loss to Collingwood on Saturday night, during which McKay was injured.
David King pictured doing sideline commentary for Fox Footy. nna\cdesilva
The 54-year-old North Melbourne legend appeared to question McKay’s resilience as the player hobbled off the MCG with a knee injury.
“It looks to me like the docs are saying it’s a pain management issue,” King said on Fox Footy.
“(They are saying) ‘We know you’re under difficulty and there is some discomfort there, but this is AFL footy, we need you out there’.”
When McKay was ruled out for the remainder of the game, King continued.
“Looks like he’s put a line through himself, putting the jacket on, that’s it, night over. Incredible disappointment. You wonder whether there’s any structural issue there or is it just a pain tolerance discussion?” he queried.
“This Harry McKay discussion will rage. There’s nothing worse than when a player of that significance is not there. It changes the whole game.
“My old coaches would say: ‘I hope that’s a two or three-week [injury]. If that’s a 15-20 minute [injury], you lose a lot of respect’.”
On Monday, King went on his SEN radio show and revealed he received a phone call from Carlton hierarchy following the game.
“I took the call from Carlton [on Sunday] … and had a lot of [public] feedback about it. Look, my thoughts are my thoughts. I am not necessarily going to back over it too much,” King said.
“I think we have spoken about players that go off a little bit easy in the past. I am not saying that’s Harry on this occasion.
“Clearly, he has got an issue, and they are telling me he will miss two weeks. I was basically referring to an old (former Kangaroos coach) Denis Paganism which you will know if you listened to what I said earlier.
Harry McKay of the Blues is seen with medical staff. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“All good. They [Blues] disagree with what the discussion was about, which is fine. That’s footy. I am happy to move on from that.”
McKay, 28, has torn the meniscus in his knee and will miss Saturday’s clash with Gold Coast, and likely at least one more game after that.
Fraser fronted media on Thursday and said he hadn’t spent much time analysing King’s commentary, but was standing by his player.
“Whenever there’s an injury, your mindset goes to the care and support for the player,” Fraser said.
“We act on the information we’re given from our medical team. The commentary around all of that, I probably push it to the side.
“I can only judge him on the way he’s presented, and he’s presented his usual self. Great energy around the group, trying as hard as he can to play and leading internally around the club.”
The Blues sit 12th on the ladder and are one of several teams fighting for a spot in the AFL’s new wildcard round before finals.