The Carlton Football Club has received a significant boost ahead of the final rounds of the home-and away-season, with captain Abbie McKay signing on until at least the end of 2027.
Already signed until the end of 2026, McKay penned an additional year to her existing contract as the first-year skipper further committed to her childhood club.
Announced as Carlton’s AFLW captain earlier this year, McKay has been a central pillar in the Blues' emerging side.
She has taken to the added responsibility in her stride this season, producing a number of impressive performances in the midfield averaging 23 disposals, four marks and 10 contested possessions per game this season.
The dominant midfielder also averages over five clearances per game (No.1 at Carlton), while her 2.6 centre clearances per game ranks her first in the league.
McKay has finished on the podium of the Best and Fairest for the last three consecutive years, proving her reliability and consistency, whilst also ranking fourth in the league contested possessions and fifth for average clearances in 2024.
In 2024, Abbie made history becoming the first father-daughter to reach the 50-game milestone, when she ran out against the Western Bulldogs in Round 8.
McKay said she loves nothing more than pulling on the Navy Blue and playing for the Club she grew up supporting.
“I am really grateful to sign on at Carlton and have loved calling IKON Park home for the most part of my life,” McKay said.
“Ever since I was drafted to the Blues, I have felt embraced by everyone around me and I am so thankful for the for all the opportunities and support I have experienced.
“The team has been building a solid foundation, and we are all just having such a fun time playing football and I feel like this is really starting to show on-field for us: hopefully we are making our supporters proud in 2025 and many years to come.
“Especially now, being captain and having my sister Soph [Sophie McKay] alongside me in the No.55, this place just feels like my second home and I couldn’t think of a better club and supporter base to have the privilege of representing week in and week out.
“It was a no brainer for me: this group is playing such an exciting brand of footy and I cannot wait to see what we can all achieve over the next few years in the Navy Blue.”
McKay plays an integral role in what is becoming an exciting core of the Blues’ side for the next decade alongside Keeley Sherar, Mimi Hill, Poppy Scholz, sister Sophie McKay, Dayna Finn and Erone Fitzpatrick - all players who are 25 or younger and playing a key part in driving the Blues' resurgence this season.
Head of AFLW Ash Naulty said McKay is a humble player who truly leads by example.
“Abbie has an incredible on-field presence, with her composure and leadership such an important feature for our team,” Naulty said.
“In the past few seasons, she has grown into such a confident and reliable footballer who is driven to take ownership of the direction this group wants to go.
“Abbie is a dynamic midfielder who just goes out there and plays her role selflessly and would rather credit her teammates than seek praise herself for her incredible performances.
“Abbie has been involved in some way at Carlton for her entire life. To see a daughter of one of our greats not only become the first father-daughter but continue to pave her way in the Navy Blue is a success story for our whole football club.
"We are thrilled to have the captain sign on and put her full trust in the program being built at IKON Park.”
