The McKay twins are carrying a heavy load in 2026. Every mistake is under the spotlight. Every missed contest sparks another wave of criticism. Right now, both Harry and Ben McKay are fighting for form, confidence, and respect as their clubs stumble through ugly starts to the AFL season.

Essendon finally pulled the trigger on Ben McKay after another poor showing. Carlton, meanwhile, has kept backing Harry despite his own sharp decline. The different calls have sparked debate across the league, especially since both players are on massive long-term deals.

The pressure is growing by the week, and neither club can afford much more disappointment.

Essendon Finally Makes the Tough Call on Ben McKay

Ben / IG / The criticism of Ben McKay became impossible to ignore after Essendon’s heavy loss to Brisbane. Ben looked shaky under pressure and struggled with basic defensive work.

Missed handballs, poor chasing, and weak contests turned him into a target for AFL media panels every week.

Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt did not hold back when reviewing his performances. They described some of the vision as painful to watch. Riewoldt even claimed opposition forwards had little trouble getting easy possessions against him because his competitiveness had dropped badly.

That criticism hits harder because of Ben’s salary. Essendon brought him over from North Melbourne on a huge five-year deal worth around $850,000 per season. In his first year at the club, his pay reportedly climbed to $1.5 million, making him the highest-paid player in the AFL at the time.

Coach Brad Scott tried to strike a balanced tone after dropping him. He said keeping Ben in the senior side was hurting both the player and the team. Scott also explained that a stint in the VFL could help clear his head and rebuild confidence away from the weekly noise.

So far, the move appears to have helped. Ben responded with a solid VFL performance in his first reserves game in seven years. Still, Essendon is not rushing him straight back into AFL level. The club wants consistency before making another call.

The awkward Cameron Mooney interview summed up the situation perfectly. Mooney assumed Ben was returning to the AFL side and asked Scott how important the comeback would be. Scott quickly corrected him on live television, reminding everyone that Ben was still not selected.

Harry McKay Stays on the Side Despite Poor Form

Harry / IG / While Essendon made a hard decision, Carlton has chosen patience with Harry McKay. The Blues continue to back their star forward despite a rough start to the season that has left supporters frustrated.

Harry has kicked only eight goals from seven games in 2026. Those numbers are far below expectations for a former Coleman Medal winner earning around $1 million a season.

Life without Charlie Curnow has exposed several problems in Harry’s game. With Curnow now at Sydney, opposition defenders can focus fully on stopping Harry. He no longer gets the second-best defender each week. The results have been ugly.

Harry has struggled to take contested marks and often loses balance in key moments. Kane Cornes pointed out that he constantly ends up on the ground during contests instead of staying strong on his feet. Carlton fans expected Harry to become the main attacking force this season. Instead, other players have stepped up while he searches for answers.

Brodie Kemp has provided more spark inside the forward 50 despite returning from a torn Achilles injury not long ago. Mitch McGovern has also produced better numbers after being delisted and later handed a rookie lifeline. Neither player entered the season with the same expectations as Harry, yet both have outperformed him.

That contrast has added even more pressure around Carlton’s decision to stick with him.

Still, the Blues believe Harry can fight through the slump. The club sees him as too important to drop right now. Carlton also knows confidence can disappear quickly for key forwards, especially when a struggling team is not creating quality opportunities inside 50.