HARRY McKay - like most who have an affinity for the Navy Blue - had himself quite the stressful Sunday.

Sidelined by a quad injury, the Blues big man was one of a number of players who watched on the screen from the Marvel Stadium as a spirited, youthful Carlton side fell just short of a September-sealing win.

But it wasn’t done there, with Carlton players, families and staff returning to IKON Park for a function which ended in Port Adelaide defeating Fremantle, ensuring that the Blues remained in eighth place and securing an elimination final berth.

Unsurprisingly, when speaking on the Ben and Harry Podcast, McKay said “it was a very strange six hours”.

“It was very unique to cheer home another side to make finals. It was quite a strange feeling, but it was cool to have everyone there for a unique moment,” McKay said.

“It was funny to see how some people couldn’t watch it, didn’t want to watch it, try and distract themselves. Others were glued to it. It was a sigh of relief . . . it was exhausting not having to play, but from riding every contest for two games of footy.

“It was a cool moment when the siren went, we’re playing finals, let’s go, reset. We’re super glad that we get a chance in September and now anything can happen — it’s a new season.”

Other than securing a spot in the top eight for the second consecutive year, McKay said one of the major positives he took was what the Blues’ youth was able to do in the absence of some of the team’s established stars.

For a number of years, Michael Voss has constantly cited the team’s need to commit to a squad mentality, and McKay believes that was evidenced in recent weeks.

In each of the last two rounds, the Blues had 11 players with less than 50 games experience - the most of any team in the AFL - and had the second-least amount of games played in Round 24.

“We’ve had quite a few injuries, but the flip side was there’s been the opportunity for a lot of the young boys to come in and play a role. They’ve been awesome, they bring a lot of energy and excitement.

“Going forward into September, it doesn’t necessarily matter who the player is, we’re really confident that anyone can come in and get that role done.

“That experience for a lot of those young boys is fantastic . . . they’ve definitely got bright futures in Blue.”

Over the course of the next week and a half, attention will naturally turn to which of the recovering Blues could be in line for returns heading into the trip to the Gabba.

While McKay wouldn’t be drawn into specifics, he said the Blues would get a lot out of the pre-finals bye heading into next Saturday’s elimination final.

“The bye comes at a good time for the group, it’s a chance to get some work in for the guys that haven’t been available plus a reset and recharge for the guys that have played the whole year. Like I said before, whoever is available, there’s full confidence they will come in and get the job done. It’s a really exciting time.

“The understanding was always if we got to finals, a few would be available. It’s going to be a big couple of weeks on the track to make sure everyone is feeling good and primed.”