Ben McKay is one of the most talked-about defenders in the AFL, especially after his big move to the Essendon Bombers. Fans know him for his tall stature and his ability to stop opposing forwards from scoring. His financial standing caught a lot of attention because of his massive contract.
Ben McKay’s Biography
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ben McKay |
| Date of Birth | December 24, 1997 |
| Age | 27 |
| Education | Haileybury College |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 202 cm |
| Weight | 104 kg |
| Turned Pro | 2015 (Drafted Pick 21) |
| Net Worth | Approx. $4 Million – $5 Million |
| Salary | ~$1.3 Million |
| Wife/Partner | Taylah |
| Instagram Profile | @benmckay_23 (Estimated) |
| Twitter Profile | @benmckay23 (Estimated) |
Early Career
Ben grew up in Gippsland, Victoria, where he played local football and started to show his talent. He played for the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup, which is a major league for young players hoping to get drafted.
Scouts noticed his height and strong marking ability right away. Ben has a twin brother named Harry McKay, and they both dreamed of playing in the AFL.
During his junior years, Ben worked hard to build his body and improve his skills as a defender. He was not always the top pick, but he showed enough potential to get noticed by AFL clubs.
In the 2015 AFL National Draft, North Melbourne selected him with pick number 21. This was a huge moment for him and his family. His brother Harry was also drafted that same year to Carlton, which made the achievement even more special.
Professional Career
Ben started his AFL journey with the North Melbourne Kangaroos. His first few years were tough because he dealt with several injuries that kept him off the field. He did not play his first senior game until 2017.
Even then, he struggled to hold a regular spot in the team for a while. However, he kept working and eventually became a key defender for the club.
Ben had played 71 games for North Melbourne and was one of their most important players. He decided to leave North Melbourne at the end of that season to join the Essendon Bombers as a free agent.
This move was very controversial because of the large contract he signed. In 2024, he played 23 games for Essendon and became a solid part of their backline. In 2025, he continued to play for the Bombers, although he missed some games due to injury.
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Wife
Ben is in a relationship with his partner, Taylah. They have been together for several years and she often supports him at his games. The couple shares moments of their life on social media platforms like TikTok.
Taylah was involved in the decision-making process when Ben moved from North Melbourne to Essendon.
Ben McKay’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Ben McKay has a substantial net worth Approx. $4 Million – $5 Million. His deal made him one of the highest-paid players in the league for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Contract
Ben signed a six-year contract with the Essendon Football Club in late 2023. This deal ties him to the club until the end of the 2029 season.
The total value of the contract is reported to be around $5 million over the six years. The contract was structured in a specific way to help Essendon manage their salary cap.
Salary
Ben earned approximately $1.3 million. This was a slight drop from his 2024 salary, which was reported to be around $1.5 million. His contract is “front-loaded,” meaning he gets paid more money in the first few years and less in the later years.
This strategy allows the club to pay him less in the future when they might need money for other players.
Career Earnings
| Year | Team | Estimated Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2016-2020 | North Melbourne | ~$1.2 Million (Total) |
| 2021 | North Melbourne | ~$400,000 |
| 2022 | North Melbourne | ~$500,000 |
| 2023 | North Melbourne | ~$550,000 |
| 2024 | Essendon | ~$1,500,000 |
| 2025 | Essendon | ~$1,300,000 |
| Total | ~$5.45 Million |
Career Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Disposals (Avg) | Marks (Avg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | North Melb | 1 | 6.0 | 3.0 |
| 2018 | North Melb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | North Melb | 3 | 10.3 | 3.7 |
| 2020 | North Melb | 11 | 9.5 | 4.2 |
| 2021 | North Melb | 22 | 16.0 | 7.0 |
| 2022 | North Melb | 15 | 14.8 | 6.1 |
| 2023 | North Melb | 19 | 12.2 | 4.5 |
| 2024 | Essendon | 23 | 13.2 | 6.1 |
| 2025 | Essendon | 10 | 8.8 | 4.4 |
| Total | 104 | 13.0 | 5.5 | |
| |
FAQs
1. How much does Ben McKay earn?
He earns approximately $1.3 million in the 2025 AFL season. This high figure results from his front-loaded contract with Essendon, which allocated the bulk of his five-million-dollar deal to the first two years of his six-year tenure.
2. Who is McKay’s twin brother?
His twin brother is Harry McKay, a Coleman Medal-winning forward who plays for Carlton. Fans often joke about their similarities, and they garnered significant media attention for missing games against each other before finally clashing on the field.
3. What position does Ben McKay play?
He operates as a key defender, often taking the role of fullback to guard the opposition’s best forward. Standing at 202 centimeters, he uses his significant reach and strength to spoil marking contests and intercept defensive plays.
4. How long is McKay’s contract with Essendon?
He signed a six-year deal that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2029 season. Essendon structured this long-term agreement to pay him the majority of the money upfront during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
5. Did North Melbourne receive compensation for McKay?
The AFL awarded North Melbourne a first-round draft pick, which became pick number three, after he left as a restricted free agent. The league determined this high compensation level based on the substantial financial value of his new Essendon contract.
