Overview

• Harry McKay disclosed that his mental health challenges began in late February, despite feeling his personal and professional life was in a good place.
• The Carlton forward took a three-week leave from AFL to prioritize his wellbeing, missing matches against Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, and Collingwood.
• McKay described the difficulty of masking his struggles, saying he felt compelled to put on a facade while internally grappling with worsening distress.
• After seeking help, McKay received overwhelming support from his family, teammates, and the football community, which he said was instrumental in his recovery.
• Having played in a VFL match last weekend, McKay is now set to return to senior AFL competition in the Gather Round game against West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval.