HARRY McKay has consistently spoken about his desire to master the craft of his role which often receives the most attention.

Having grown up watching a number of gun key forwards prove their wares on the big stage, McKay kept a watchful eye on those who have gone before him and picked up some tricks of the trade. 

Even speaking earlier this week, he highlighted the power and class of Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins, who he described as the competition’s outstanding key forwards that just so happen to be at the other end of the ground tomorrow night. 

So the chance to pick the brains of some champion forwards - including Nick Riewoldt - was on his mind back in 2018.

“We grabbed a coffee when you were a bit of a junior burger, you hadn’t really hit your straps yet,” Riewoldt said to McKay on AFL360.

“I’m not taking any credit!”

McKay said the decision to reach out to Riewoldt among a number of others was born out of a desire to get the best out of himself and not leave anything to chance.

“Since I started at the Club, they encourage you to explore how good you can be and look at every avenue of how to get better,” McKay said.

“From a key forward point of view, there were a lot of guys in the competition that had just finished, especially in my role. It’s a very crafty position and there are a lot of elements you can work on.

“There were probably four or five guys that I caught up with and tried to pick their brains… Nick was good enough with his time to sit down with me which was awesome.”

FOX Footy’s Kath Loughnan - sitting alongside Riewoldt and also Jordan Lewis - that there are cases of current players reaching out to past greats for advice on their own volition, or others who are encouraged to by coaches. 

McKay said this instance was a case of the former. 

“Sometimes it can be a bit of a box tick, but I’ve always enjoyed watching the best key forwards in the game and picking parts to learn from,” he said.

“I know I’m different and I’m not exactly the same as other players, but if you can get an opportunity with your networks and coaches to sit down with some greats of the game, it’s really good.”