Andrew McKay
Encyclopedia
Dr Andrew Ian McKay is a former Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
.
McKay grew up in eastern South Australia, and played junior football for Lucindale in the Kowree-Naracoorte Football League
. He moved to Adelaide and played senior SANFL football for Glenelg between 1991 and 1992, playing a total of 40 senior games for the Tigers. In 1992, McKay was dominant in his primary position at half-back flank, and he finished second in the Magarey Medal
in 1992 behind Port Adelaide
's Nathan Buckley
.Blueseum, Andrew McKay, Retrieved 15 April 2011.
McKay was recruited to the Australian Football League
by the Carlton Football Club
with its first round selection in the 1992 AFL Draft
(#13 overall). He made his debut in Round 1, and immediately displayed the outstanding defensive skills that he had displayed at Glenelg. In his first AFL season, he was named on the half-back flank in the All-Australian team. He also represented South Australia
at State of Origin that season, a feat he repeated in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, McKay was a member of Carlton's premiership team, the only premiership in his senior career.
While still playing in 1996, McKay took up veterinary science, studying at the University of Queensland
. To balance his study with his football career, McKay trained with the University of Queensland Australian Football Club
whilst commuting to Melbourne on most weekends to play matches with Carlton. McKay played 15 of Carlton's 24 matches that season. He returned to Melbourne in 1997.
Throughout the next years, McKay played two more matches for South Australia, and was the final winner of the Fos Williams Medal
before the end of top-level State of Origin football in 1999. He made the All-Australian team as half-back flanker three times consecutively in 1999, 2000 and 2001, bringing his career tally to four. In 2003, McKay's final season, he stepped up to the Carlton captaincy following the mid-season retirement of Brett Ratten
, and also won the Robert Reynolds Trophy for the first and only time in his career.
McKay is a life member and Hall of Fame Inductee of the Carlton Football Club. In 2007, he was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
Since retiring, McKay has practised professionally as a veterinarian
. In addition to this, he joined the newly-formed Match Review Panel, set up in 2005 as an overhaul of the AFL Tribunal
system; from 2007 until 2009, he served as Chairman of that panel. He has also been involved in the Laws of the Game Committee. In October 2011, McKay replaced Steven Icke
as the General Manager of Football Operations at the Carlton Football Club.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
McKay grew up in eastern South Australia, and played junior football for Lucindale in the Kowree-Naracoorte Football League
Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League
The Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, Australia. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League...
. He moved to Adelaide and played senior SANFL football for Glenelg between 1991 and 1992, playing a total of 40 senior games for the Tigers. In 1992, McKay was dominant in his primary position at half-back flank, and he finished second in the Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
in 1992 behind Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
's Nathan Buckley
Nathan Buckley
Nathan Charles Buckley is a former professional Australian rules football player, commentator and coach, best known for his time as captain of the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
.Blueseum, Andrew McKay, Retrieved 15 April 2011.
McKay was recruited to the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
by the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
with its first round selection in the 1992 AFL Draft
1992 AFL Draft
The 1992 AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
(#13 overall). He made his debut in Round 1, and immediately displayed the outstanding defensive skills that he had displayed at Glenelg. In his first AFL season, he was named on the half-back flank in the All-Australian team. He also represented South Australia
South Australia Australian rules football team
The Croweaters is the representative side of South Australia in the sport of Australian rules football. The team is currently the representative team of the South Australian National Football League and South Australian under-age footballers.-History:...
at State of Origin that season, a feat he repeated in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, McKay was a member of Carlton's premiership team, the only premiership in his senior career.
While still playing in 1996, McKay took up veterinary science, studying at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. To balance his study with his football career, McKay trained with the University of Queensland Australian Football Club
University of Queensland Australian Football Club
The University of Queensland Australian Football Club is an amateur Australian rules football club playing in Divisions 1 and 2 of the AFLQ State Association competition overseen by AFL Queensland. UQAFC home games are played at the University of Queensland's No...
whilst commuting to Melbourne on most weekends to play matches with Carlton. McKay played 15 of Carlton's 24 matches that season. He returned to Melbourne in 1997.
Throughout the next years, McKay played two more matches for South Australia, and was the final winner of the Fos Williams Medal
Fos Williams Medal
The Fos Williams Medal has been awarded since 1981 to the best Australian rules football player from South Australia during Inter-State or Inter-Competition matches. The medal is named in honour of legendary South Australian National Football League player and coach Fos Williams.Originally the...
before the end of top-level State of Origin football in 1999. He made the All-Australian team as half-back flanker three times consecutively in 1999, 2000 and 2001, bringing his career tally to four. In 2003, McKay's final season, he stepped up to the Carlton captaincy following the mid-season retirement of Brett Ratten
Brett Ratten
Brett "Ratts" Ratten is a former Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League....
, and also won the Robert Reynolds Trophy for the first and only time in his career.
McKay is a life member and Hall of Fame Inductee of the Carlton Football Club. In 2007, he was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
South Australian Football Hall of Fame
The South Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who had made a significant contribution in the South Australian National Football League...
.
Since retiring, McKay has practised professionally as a veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
. In addition to this, he joined the newly-formed Match Review Panel, set up in 2005 as an overhaul of the AFL Tribunal
AFL Tribunal
The AFL Tribunal is the disciplinary tribunal of the Australian Football League .-Points system:Source: AFL Tribunal 2011 Guidebook...
system; from 2007 until 2009, he served as Chairman of that panel. He has also been involved in the Laws of the Game Committee. In October 2011, McKay replaced Steven Icke
Steven Icke
Steven Icke is a former Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
as the General Manager of Football Operations at the Carlton Football Club.