A FOCAL point returns.

Harry McKay will make his return to senior action this Saturday when Carlton takes on Gold Coast.

Training fully in recent weeks after recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee, McKay will provide a key presence in attack for the Blues in their Round 23 encounter at Heritage Bank Stadium.

The 2021 Coleman Medallist was in outstanding form prior to his setback, having a career-high 20 disposals to go with his three goals against Fremantle as the Blues averaged 16 goals a game before his injury against Port Adelaide.

McKay takes the spot in the line-up of Lachie Fogarty, who was unable to train throughout the week due to soreness. 

Last week’s sub Ed Curnow has been omitted, named as one of four emergencies alongside Jordan Boyd, Josh Honey and Jack Silvagni, who is available for the first time after a knee injury sustained a month ago. 

One of the four emergencies will be named as sub an hour before the bounce.

After completing full training, Sam Docherty has been selected after being subbed out last weekend with a corked calf.

The Blues will have two milestones on Saturday afternoon, with Matthew Cottrell and David Cuningham both to play their 50th career games.

A boyhood Bluebagger, Cottrell was a supplemental selection period signing back in 2019, having to wait nearly 18 months before his Carlton debut: since then, he has become a dependable selection for the Blues under Michael Voss, particularly as a high half-forward in 2023 after a number of years on the wing.

A unique journey in his own right, Cuningham will reach a long-awaited 50 games, having been taken by the Blues with the final pick of the first round in the 2015 AFL Draft. The last time Carlton played Gold Coast, Cuningham made his return from a two-year injury wait: his seven tackles last weekend was the second most of any Blue.

In: Harry McKay
Out: Lachie Fogarty (soreness), Ed Curnow