AFL twins Ben and Harry McKay are facing intense scrutiny over their poor performances, with both players criticised for a lack of effort and basic skill errors.
The identical twins, who play for Essendon and Carlton respectively, have been shredded by Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters, singled out for their inability to execute fundamental aspects of the game and keep their feet.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Essendon and Carlton need McKay twins to lift
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
“(Essendon and Carlton) have got identical problems. And these two players just happen to be identical twins … on well over a million dollars, of course, we’re talking about the McKay twins,” Cornes said Monday night’s The Agenda Setters.
Riewoldt then ran vision (watch it in the video above) of Ben McKay during the Bombers’ clash with North Melbourne, with one clip showing him missing his handball target by a metre, and another where he was caught in no-man’s land, with his opponent, Nick Larkey behind, and then Ben giving up the chase.
“Big guys, big contracts who can’t execute a single handball,” Riewoldt said.
“How about you give us some minimum standard effort? Ben McKay, he does not want to play on anyone (in this vision).
“You want to start walking rather than stand the mark … gave up on your team so (Larkey) can turn around, pass it to the goalsquare and make a sure (goal for the opposition).
“Not good enough. Not competitive.”
Cornes showed other vision of Ben McKay where he jogged around while his oppenent easily gave him the slip.
“Just watch him. There’s his direct opponent. And he’s actually just watching. There’s no movement. There’s no hunt. There’s no intensity to get back and to help his team defend,” Cornes said.
“And we wonder why Essendon get opened up every single week.”
Meanwhile, Cornes noted that Harry McKay is struggling with his own issues, frequently ending up on the ground during contests.
With Charlie Curnow now at Sydney and Harry his team’s main forward target, the physical nature of the role is seemingly taking its toll on McKay.
“Poor old Harry ends up on the ground every time I see him play. Keep your feet, Harry,” Cornes pleaded.
“It’s a tough gig. You are the main man down there. But he’s on the ground every time I watch him play.
“So both of the twins playing with skill errors and a genuine lack of effort and intensity.”
Head here to watch The Agenda Setters on 7plus Sport
Both Cornes and Riewoldt believe the situation highlights the risks clubs face when locking players into long-term, high-value contracts without consistent competitive performances to justify the investment.
“Big issues for the clubs. And this is what happens when you lock players in long-term contracts who are not competitive consistently,” Riewoldt said.
Both McKay brothers are now under pressure to lift their intensity, but Ben will have his work cut out for him when the winless Bombers face the red-hot Western Bulldogs on Sunday night.
Harry and his Blues are facing North Melbourne in huge Good Friday clash at Marvel that is shaping a must-win game for Carlton.
