“I’M GOING to keep backing him in.”

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps couldn’t be stronger in his defence of Harry McKay.

The 2021 Coleman Medallist has contributed 12 goals from his nine games this season, after kicking 58 and 45 goals from his last two 19-game campaigns prior to the current one.

However, Cripps pointed to McKay’s total impact - not just in front of goal - when mentioning the form of the key forward.

While firmly believing that “he’ll get back to kicking them, I’m sure”, Cripps said McKay’s status as a focal point in the Blues’ attack wasn’t going understated inside the four walls of IKON Park.

Averaging over eight marks a game this season, McKay ranks second in the competition for contested marks (sixth for total marks), often alternating with Charlie Curnow in playing higher up the ground to provide an outlet out of defence.

Highly regarded at Carlton for the work he puts into his training, the skipper was firm in his support of McKay, saying the big man’s luck would turn.

“He puts in as much work as anyone,” Cripps said.

“If you look at his past 12-18 months, his snap percentage has been really high and has been a really successful kick for him . . . he’d be as frustrated as anyone with some of his execution at the moment.

“He’s one of the best forwards in the competition and he’s a key player who provides so much for us.

“The goals haven’t quite been there for him, but some of his contested marks with the way he links the ground and provides a presence for us, it’s not all about the goals. He’ll get back to kicking them, I’m sure.”