A major component of Carlton’s struggles in 2026 surrounds the club’s inability to cover for the loss of Charlie Curnow, much of which stems from Harry McKay’s struggle for form.

The 2021 Coleman Medallist was backed in by the club to share the forward 50 with Brodie Kemp and Mitch McGovern, clearly positioned as the side’s number one forward option ahead of the season.

Unfortunately, this decision has far from panned out the way the Blues might have hoped, with McKay kicking just eight goals through seven games this season, significantly less than his key forward counterparts.

Evidently out of confidence, McKay’s position in the side presents a new challenge for coach Michael Voss and the Blues’ selection panel. Without an obvious replacement on the list, McKay is as close to a necessity as it gets when it comes to Carlton’s key position players.

However, given his struggle for consistency, persisting with the same front 50 setup may prove difficult.

Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley believes the Blues have three different paths that they can take with McKay in order to recapture past performances.

“The first thing we should consider – he is a proven performer at this level. That is why he is highly paid,” Hinkley told SEN Sportsday.

“We are not chasing something that we can’t get, we are trying to find what we had. We are looking for the opportunity to recapture that form to allow him to play and be the player you need him to be at Carlton.

“There are about three options; you put him in a different position – ruck, key back, somewhere he has to physically go and compete and win some contested ball. That will help you get confidence, because when you win battle ball, you get more confidence than you do from a lead-up mark.

“Kicking goals will certainly give you confidence, but he’s not showing that he’s got that at the moment. It’s ruck, it’s key back, or it’s out of the side.

“Sometimes, out of the side is the best circuit breaker you can give a player underperforming, who is highly paid, who has got all the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“He doesn’t want to be this player that everyone is watching at the moment. He wants to be the match-winning Coleman Medallist that’s earning his money. I get sick of it; players don’t love being out of form.

“It’s clear that they don’t enjoy it and they want to be at their absolute best, so help him get to his best by not putting up with what he’s been putting up.”

So, with 13 years of coaching experience under his belt, what would Ken do if he were in Michael Voss’ position?

“My personal view is, I’d probably drop him,” he said.

“That’s as honest as I can be. I would probably make that decision, because I would release the pressure.

“If you put him into the ruck or you put him down back - let’s say it doesn’t quite work or the side is getting flogged and he’s copping it more, I don’t think that’s going to help, you just set him back longer.

“The quickest way back to the best version of Harry, the Coleman Medal version of Harry, is to put him out of the side for a week or two, release the shackles, bring him back in.

“You might find that the physical component of his game comes back because the mental release is there.

“That to me, if I was protecting and looking after Harry, I’d be doing this for care more than making any big statement.”

Carlton faces Brisbane on Friday night in an unlikely bid to return to winning ways.