WITH a successful season opener against the Gold Coast now in the rear-view mirror, star midfielder Abbie McKay will be going into this weekend’s SuperClash against the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos with extra motivation after a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital on Thursday.
After the success of the SuperClash between Carlton and North Melbourne earlier in the year, the Blues and Roos will be looking at going one better when the AFLW sides band together to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital in a very special, inaugural AFLW SuperClash.
“It’s so great and such a good cause on Sunday, and we all have a bit of a connection to the Royal Children’s Hospital, so we’re thrilled to be a part of it” said McKay after meeting patients at the hospital.
The Blues will enter the meeting with the Roos at Arden Street, looking to impress and show what the future holds as they go up against a team which many are expecting to see in the post-season.
But that takes a back seat for McKay as she took a step back and appreciated what the Royal Children’s Hospital do all-year-round for sick children and their families.
“Just like any cause its great to be involved with it all year round, we don’t want to focus on it for one month and then forget about it so its great that we can bring it up at the end of the year and continue raising funds for such an important cause," she said.
Even though the morning was about the kids, McKay was full of optimism turning to the football side of things on Sunday, with a lot of praise for North Melbourne, but a lot of positivity for her teammates.
A young and inspired Blues' outfit is looking for their first win against the Roos in what will be their fourth meeting, but McKay has a lot of belief in the new system that has taken shape at IKON Park.
“North are such a good side and we have a lot of respect for them, so we know it's going to be a tough game," she said.
"We’ve got a new system this year and we’re playing a way in which we think we can win and we’re excited to see what we can do.”
In the end, there is a lot more to this weekend than football, with McKay and the rest of the playing group seeing the bigger picture, taking that little bit of extra inspiration after meeting patients and their families at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“We’ve met all these kids here today and we know when we run out on Sunday that we’re doing it for them and representing them," she said.
"It’s really exciting and it's something to think about and gives us a bit of extra purpose going into the game on the weekend."
