Carlton forward Harry McKay has been backed as the Blues' next skipper, with two-time premiership player Cameron Mooney also stating Carlton need to lock away their prized spearhead, per Fox Sports.
The 22-year-old is contracted with the Blues for 2021, but Mooney believes the club should be looking to secure his name for the long-term.
When speaking on Fox Footy's The First Crack, Mooney said:โHarry McKay was just interviewed by the boys, (heโs) 22 years of age. Iโve actually got him written down as the next captain."
โI think this kid has everything. But in all seriousness, he runs out of contract at the end of next year, heโs got 12 months to go.
โIf Iโm Carlton and Iโm not talking about the big bucks, if you can get away with it without paying the big bucks, but Iโm extending him as much as I can.
โFour years, as soon as I can. Heโs No.1 forward for five to eight years for this club.โ
Mooney added that once fellow prized forward Charlie Curnow returns to fitness, the Blues could boast one of the leagues best forward pairings.
โWe know thereโs a great player in Charlie Curnow waiting in the wings if he can get his knee right, who knows what is going to happen with Charlie,โ he added.
โWe hope he is going to get better and be the player we want him to be. But Harry is the key forward for the next five to eight years.
โIโm signing him up now because next year Carlton if you havenโt signed him, there are 17 other clubs banging on the door ready to give him $800,000 a year minimum, so I would get into it now so I can maybe just pay him $600,000-$700,000, trying and get him for cheap now.โ
Former Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy lauded McKay's Friday night perforce against the Suns on Friday.
โHeโs got such physical advantage, heโs so tall and covers the ground. Itโs where he wins the ball, heโs so big but heโs able to get off his opponent,โ he said.
Mooney backed the Blues to get a deal done quickly for McKay, but expressed the need to cash in early for the forward.
โYou can see he is starting to get it. Heโs 6ft 8in, 100kg and nimble, beautiful left peg and is starting to have a midfield that is winning the ball,โ he said.
โWe all have nights where you donโt kick it that well, but he is seriously that No.1 forward and target for a long, long time. I am signing him up as quick as I can as cheap as I can if Iโm Carlton.
โDoesnโt mean you go cheap and give him nothing โฆ get in now while you can before 17 clubs can.
โIf Iโm here, Iโm going to get the extra four years. Iโm not a big person on young players getting big contracts, but there are clubs that are going to pay it. I think five year security, really good money and you have a team building around you.
โYou have a captain in the centre, your backline is getting a cohesion and your midfield is coming through with a really good forward line in the making. Itโs a promising group sitting one game out of the finals.โ
