IT’S BEEN quite the journey.

Harry McKay will run out for his 150th AFL game in Navy Blue on Saturday night, over a decade after walking into the doors of IKON Park as a first-round draftee.

The big man has left a big impression on all the teammates he’s been alongside throughout his time on Royal Parade, whether that’s junior teammates Jacob Weitering and Ben Ainsworth, long-time locker buddy Mitch McGovern and young Blue Jagga Smith.

The four of them sat down with Carlton Media this week to chat about ‘Big H’.

Weitering: We’ve known each other for a long period of time now, spending our top-age year together at Vic Country where he burst onto the scene. I still remember the first time we were together as Carlton players. That whole draft class, we were a few different operators in the way we went about ourselves - the one thing Harry has always been is a really nice, really kind guy and a great teammate to be around. He’s turned into the ultimate professional who knows what he’s doing every minute of every day.

McGovern: To be honest, I really thought he’d play more than 150 already: the credibility that he’s had for his whole career, the accolades he’s received and the way he carries himself - he seems much more mature than a 150-game player. For him to reach this milestone, it’s a credit to him. All the things that have come before his 150th, it’s not a surprise to anyone inside the footy club. The amount of work he’s put in to his game and his body and his craft, he’s a Coleman Medallist and a huge presence for our footy club. I’m absolutely rapt for him.

Ainsworth: He’s had a fantastic career ‘H’, such a commanding presence as you want from your big key forward - he’s a ripping fella as well. In 2015 we played Gippsland Power together as well as playing the state carnival together for Vic Country. It was a long time between drinks: I was at the Suns for nine years and he’s been here the whole time, but it’s been so good to reconnect with him here at the Blues and so fun playing with him over the first 10 or so weeks.

Weitering: He’ll say he kicked four on me in Dandenong versus Gippy in Round 1 of 2015. Ever since, he was touted as a pretty decent key forward. I couldn’t give you a number of how many he actually kicked on me, because I was playing on a better player that day. Harry was the no-name decoy - which he practically was for the state carnival that day as well.

Ainsworth: He was very raw but very talented. He came out of nowhere a little bit, a lot of recruiters were ranting and raving about him. He’s had a stellar career since then including a Coleman Medal. He’s been great for me entering the footy club. Not knowing too many people at Carlton outside of playing a bit of footy with him and ‘Weiters’, he’s been exceptional at welcoming me through the doors.

Smith: We did a little bit of rehab together last year, but just as that midfielder and key-position forward, there’s a relationship where we do a bit of extras like inside-50 entries. Our relationship has grown from there. He’s been really good for me and my development, on and off the field. He’s been trying to help me with a bit of cooking, he’s a very good cook.

McGovern: The ultimate professional. He’s fully committed to his craft and getting better every day. Each pre-season he’s out there basically every session competing against one of the best defenders in the competition in ‘Weiters’. He’s so competitive, he works on the little details of his game on and off the field. He maybe isn’t regarded or respected as much he should be externally for the work he puts in, but we absolutely love him inside the Club for what he does and what he brings to our team.

Smith: We’ve got a good relationship. He’s always the first to tell me what to do better or give some constructive feedback, as I do with him. We have this thing where he won’t be happy if I don’t hit him right on the chest, and I won’t be happy if he doesn’t get there. It’s two-way feedback! There was one on the weekend that was definitely on me, and he let me know about it as well - at three-quarter time, he just walked over and set ‘get them up, mate’. I couldn’t say much back to that one.

McGovern: He’s a big body, he takes up a lot of space - the ‘1011’ is Harry’s locker door number, which is mine and his combined. I’m shoulder to shoulder with him every day. He’s a ripping guy, loves having a chat every day, down to earth and humble. He’s matured off the field particularly in the last three or four years.

Weitering: I’ll give him credit, he’d have to be one of the wittiest people in my time at the Club. His ability to find a moment and put it right back on the person that’s gone at him is second to none. He’s a pretty funny guy… when he’s not trying. Nobody finds Harry funnier than Harry though, he does love laughing at his jokes. He’s got a great relationship with the Interim Coach now in Josh Fraser, he spent a lot of time with him in the early days in the VFL while I was playing in his position.

Ainsworth: They [McKay and Fraser] go a little bit back in terms of their relationship, they’ve formed that over the years: it’s always good fun sitting in meetings when those two are going at it. Now that ‘Frase’ is Interim Coach, they might have to wind it back a bit I reckon if ‘H’ wants to get picked every week.

McGovern: Harry and I tried to stitch up a few of the boys a few times. We ended up getting TDK, with bean bag beans in his locker. And then we also got ‘Newy’ with some onions in his locker. The one thing Harry doesn’t have humility with is his humour: he definitely thinks he’s the funniest in the room.

Weitering: ‘H’ probably came in a little bit hot for some and I probably came in a little bit cold for some. It’s natural for 18 years old to find their feet. The senior guys mentored Harry and myself really well. There were some hard workers in there, and I think ‘H’ learned some valuable lessons in that - because in terms of work done away from the ground, his craft and his mindset and his diet and his professionalism, he’s right up there.

McGovern: He’s made a big resurgence in his maturity, he’s made a resurgence in his footy after a quieter start to the year which he’d admit and would’ve liked to have changed: he’s come back bigger and stronger, just like his hairline.

Smith: He’s pretty happy with his buzz as well. He’s calling himself the ‘Australian Brad Pitt’… I might’ve given it to him, but he’s run with it.

Weitering: A bit has changed. Personality, looks, hair line - his hair line has had the recovery of the decade. I wouldn’t call it natural…