AFL News: Free agent McKay makes his choice, McLachlan slams Newman's Welcome to Country dig

North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay has nominated Essendon as his club of choice.

The key defender was among the hottest properties on the marking heading into the 2023 trade and free agency period, with Essendon and Sydney among the other clubs vying for his services.

However, it was confirmed on Friday McKay will call the Bombers home next season, with the club crying out for a key defender following Brandon Zerk-Thatcher’s request for a trade to Port Adelaide.

McKay is a restricted free agent, meaning the Kangaroos can match any Bombers bid and force a trade; however, with the 25-year old set to command a top-five compensatory draft pick, they seem unlikely to do so.

McKay’s move means he will reunite with former coach Brad Scott, who was at the helm at North Melbourne for his first four career games in 2017 and 2019.

In a club statement, Kangaroos list manager Brady Rawlings left the door open to matching the Bombers’ contract offer, which could exceed $700,000 per season according to reports.

“We understand that free agency is part of football,” Rawlings said.

“Given Ben is a restricted free agent, we have the option to match any contract that’s on offer to him.

“The official start of the free agency period is still a couple of weeks away so we’ve got time to assess our options and make a decision in the best interests of the North Melbourne Football Club.”

McKay played 71 games for the Kangaroos after being drafted at the end of 2015 – the same draft as twin brother Harry (Carlton) – but has tasted victory just eight times in eight seasons at the highest level.

Ben McKay of the Kangaroos celebrates a goal. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

McLachlan, Andrews slams Newman’s Welcome to Country dig

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has savaged controversial pundit Sam Newman’s claim that the Welcome to Country performed before every AFL match this finals series is a ‘rort’, saying the ceremony has been ‘respected significantly’ by the majority of footy fans.

Newman sparked outrage in an appearance on 3AW when he claimed the Welcome to Country is a ‘mark of division’ in a tense exchange with host Tony Jones.

“It is an absolute hoax, it’s a rort, the Welcome to Country,” Newman, who was a magnet for controversy during his two-decade stint as host of Nine’s The Footy Show, said.

“Why do we have to be welcomed to the country we live in? Why is that? It is just a mark of division.

“The public have had a gutful of people telling us how to live our lives, particularly footballing organisations.

“We like to go to the football and watch the game without being told to vote for the gay marriage proposal… without being told to vote for the Voice. Why do they [the AFL] get involved?”

Newman had previously called for fans attending this weekend’s preliminary finals to boo during the Welcome to Country; however, McLachlan rubbished those suggestions.

“I’m not going to dignify those sort of individual responses out in the community, other than to say I disagree very definitively,” the league boss said.

“I think that the Welcome to Country across the finals series and the [national] anthem have been respected significantly – people stand, they clap, they feel included.

“It rolls into the anthem and then it rolls into the start of our game, it is a glistening part of our game now.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have also hit back at Newman’s comments.

“Why would you say no to all the wisdom, all the richness that comes from that [the Welcome to Country]? I don’t think that would be the right thing to do,” Andrews said.

“When it comes to views of former footballers, I’d be more inclined to listen to, say, Uncle Michael Long on these sorts of issues than Sam Newman,” Andrews said.

“Every day, and twice on Sundays I’d listen to Michael Long [rather] than Sammy.

“I don’t think that’s a very generous thing to be putting forward… I don‘t think it’s right at all.”

Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin performs a Welcome to Country. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

McLachlan urged to stay at Richmond despite senior coach snub

Former great Dermott Brereton has urged Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter to remain at Punt Road for 2023, despite missing out on the permanent position to Adem Yze.

In a tight race between McQualter and the former Demons assistant, the Tigers opted to hand Yze the reins for the 2024 season; but speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 Plus, Brereton believes the 37-year old’s knowledge of the playing group will be ‘invaluable’ for the new man in charge.

“If you’re Yze, you’d want to pick the brain of the bloke who had them for 13 games,” Brereton said.

“[McQualter] saw what he saw, recognised the traits he was able to work with. If you can lean on him to get that out of him, I think it’s invaluable.

“It’s not like the White House, when you come in and throw all the previous staff out and bring all your own in. You’ve got to actually take some of what’s gone before you.”

Brereton had nothing but praise for Yze’s appointment, with the long-time assistant, who was involved in Hawthorn’s premiership hat-trick from 2013-15, described as ‘tactically as good as the game has seen.”

Adam Yze previously served as Melbourne’s assistant coach in charge of their midfield. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

‘Running out of good men’: Lions legend says Carlton lambs to the slaughter in Gabba prelim

Brisbane great Jason Akermanis has predicted a ’40-plus’ victory margin for Brisbane in their preliminary final clash with Carlton on Saturday – and has anticipated the Lions will ensure a difficult evening at the office for any injured Blues.

The Lions are within one win of their first grand final since making four consecutively between 2001-4, winning the first three.

Akermanis, who featured in all four of those, said the club has its ‘best list for 20 years – since I played probably’, in an interview on SENQ.

“They’ve been good all year. They’re the best midfield and the most potent forward line in the comp, and their backline is super strong,” Akermanis said.

“I did say that they would win that qualifying final [against Port Adelaide] and they certainly win this weekend against Carlton in the prelim to get to the grand final.”

With Blues veteran Sam Docherty nursing an injured shoulder, having dislocated it in the semi final, Akermanis believes Lions enforcer Dayne Zorko will be out to test him and several other wounded visitors.

“They’re running out of good men,” Akermanis said of the Blues.

“If you’ve got a sore shoulder… they’re running out of soldiers, I think, so they’re right at the end of their tether.

“If Zorko doesn’t run past a couple of those boys like Docherty and just test out that shoulder, then I’ll eat my hat.”

The Lions and Blues lock horns on Saturday at 5:15pm (AEST).