LEIGH Brown couldn’t reach for his mobile phone fast enough.
The Gippsland Power coach had just helped out at Warragul footy training, where a pair of towering 16-year-olds dazzled on a cold and slippery night after playing a school game earlier that day.
The twin brothers’ marking prowess, athleticism and sure hands had AFL potential written all over them, Brown said.
Harry McKay’s leading and ability to wheel onto his left foot like Buddy Franklin shone, while identical brother Ben’s cleanness standing under high balls had Collingwood premiership player Brown excited.
With icy fingers, Brown punched in Power talent manager Pete Francis’s number and asked if the McKay boys were on the TAC Cup club’s radar.
The answer was no, but they were soon enough.
Francis watched their under-18 final for Warragul and invited the twins down for pre-season 12 months ago.
After just one development season, Harry is tipped to crack the top 10 at this month’s national draft as Melbourne, Carlton and Adelaide eye the marking forward.
Had Harry been born eight days later and ineligible for this year’s draft, some AFL recruiters believe he would have grown into next year’s No.1 pick.
Ben — nicknamed “Buckets” — has played only 10 TAC Cup games and none for Vic Country, yet is in Harry’s draft shadow.
The lockdown defender was clouded by self-doubt and walked out on the Power during pre-season but returned after watching his brother impress on the national stage.
In between, Ben had dominating for Warragul seniors at centre half-forward and his terrific testing at the draft combine further narrowed the gap between the brothers.
“They’re December 24 babies, so a bit like Marcus Bontempelli in his draft year there’s massive scope for improvement,” one recruiter said.
“They’re so raw. We’ve only seem glimpses but the upside is huge.”
But why did it take 17 years for the McKays to reach an elite junior program when others are ushered into talent pathways much earlier?
“We had a few lean years and weren’t playing the best football or as confident,” Harry said.
“But when two 200cm key position players burst on the scene, a few people got excited.”
The McKays grew late but grew tall. Both now stand 200cm and have size 15 feet. Physically they are identical. Otherwise, the differences flow.
Harry is a left-footer, Ben kicks with his right. Ben is more laid-back whereas Harry is more intense.
Both prefer playing in attack, but clubs see Harry lead-up forward-ruckman in the mould of Joe Daniher and Ben maturing in the backline.
Harry kicked four goals on first-round prospect Kieran Collins this year. Ben controlled a late-season game against Oakleigh with five contested marks in the wet.
Brown said each walked off after those games finally confident they were headed for the big time.
The McKay twins have yet to play a competitive game against each other but, after sharing a bedroom for 14 years and spending hours almost every day battling in the back yard, they want that chance.
“It would be better if we were at separate clubs,” Harry said.
“We’d grow and develop better away from each other,” Ben added. “And (when we play against each other) there’d be plenty of banter.”
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