Don McKenzie (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Don McKenzie is a former Australian rules footballer who played 266 senior games for the Essendon Bombers from 1960 to 1974. He played his first match in Round 7 of the 1960 season, against Melbourne
, at Essendon's home ground, Windy Hill
.
(who would regularly punch the ball from the centre bounce to centre-half forward), with an extraordinarily high vertical leap.
Employed as an inspector of interstate transport vehicles and their drivers by the Victorian Country Roads Board, McKenzie was strong, tough, and aggressive, and he had the stamina to play hard all day.
He always played far beyond his height and weight, and he regularly outplayed much taller opponents (such as Carlton's Peter "Percy" Jones
, St Kilda's Carl Ditterich
, and Collingwood's Len Thompson
), as well as much heavier opponents (such as Carlton's John Nicholls).
He won premierships in 1962 1962 VFL season#Grand Final Teams and 1965 1965 VFL season#Grand Final Teams as well as winning the club's best and fairest in 1966.
He was selected in the Victorian team to play Tasmania in 1967.
He was captain of the Essendon losing Grand Final team in 1968.
He was also selected for the first international tour of "The Galahs
" in 1968.
, Darryl Gerlach
, Geoff Pryor
, and Barry Davis
, demanded better pay and conditions. Once the issue was resolved (by the time of the second round in 1970), McKenzie was appointed Vice Captain for 1970 (with Barry Davis appointed Captain). According to Mapleston,
(later, the captain-coach of Essendon 1972-1975), also went on "strike" at that time, and they did not train with Collingwood for three weeks. However "both players eventually agreed to the compromise involved in the League's offer, but Tuddenham was stripped of the captaincy" (Ross, 1996, p253).
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, at Essendon's home ground, Windy Hill
Windy Hill, Essendon
Windy Hill is an Australian rules football ground located in Essendon, a northwestern suburb of the Melbourne metropolitan area....
.
Talent
An exceptionally talented "knock" ruckmanRuckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
(who would regularly punch the ball from the centre bounce to centre-half forward), with an extraordinarily high vertical leap.
Employed as an inspector of interstate transport vehicles and their drivers by the Victorian Country Roads Board, McKenzie was strong, tough, and aggressive, and he had the stamina to play hard all day.
He always played far beyond his height and weight, and he regularly outplayed much taller opponents (such as Carlton's Peter "Percy" Jones
Peter Jones (Australian rules footballer)
Peter Kevin "Percy" Jones , the son of Kevin and Mollie Jones , is a former Australian rules footballer who played 249 games for the Carlton Blues in the VFL...
, St Kilda's Carl Ditterich
Carl Ditterich
Carl Ditterich is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL.Ditterich, known as the "Blonde Bombshell", made a sensational best-on-ground debut against Melbourne in 1963 where he was said to have run around like a Gazelle. He became a tough ruckman and often appeared at the League Tribunal,...
, and Collingwood's Len Thompson
Len Thompson
Len Thompson was an Australian rules footballer, who played for most of his career at Collingwood.-Collingwood:...
), as well as much heavier opponents (such as Carlton's John Nicholls).
Career
He made his debut for Essendon in 1960, having only played Australian Rules Football for three years. He went on to play 266 games for Essendon; he played 94 consecutive senior games from 1965 to 1969.He won premierships in 1962 1962 VFL season#Grand Final Teams and 1965 1965 VFL season#Grand Final Teams as well as winning the club's best and fairest in 1966.
He was selected in the Victorian team to play Tasmania in 1967.
He was captain of the Essendon losing Grand Final team in 1968.
He was also selected for the first international tour of "The Galahs
Australian Football World Tour
The Australian Football World Tour was a series of International Rules Football matches, organised by football sports broadcaster and former VFL umpire Harry Beitzel in 1967 and 1968.-First tour:...
" in 1968.
Dispute over player payments
McKenzie captained the club in the 1969 season. He was removed from his captaincy in 1970 when he and four of his team mates, Geoff GosperGeoff Gosper
Geoff Gosper is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL during the 1960s.Gosper played mostly as a half forward flanker and was recruited to Essendon from Strathmore. He was a reserve in Essendon's 1962 premiership side and on a half forward flank in their 1965...
, Darryl Gerlach
Darryl Gerlach
Darryl Gerlach is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL.Gerlach played his football in the back pocket for Essendon although he started his career in the centre. He was a premiership player with Essendon in 1965 and won their best and fairest award in 1970...
, Geoff Pryor
Geoff Pryor (footballer)
Geoffrey Gordon Stephen Pryor is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL during the late 1960s and early 1970s....
, and Barry Davis
Barry Davis
Barry Davis is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League with Essendon and North Melbourne, before coaching his original team between 1978–1980.- Essendon career :...
, demanded better pay and conditions. Once the issue was resolved (by the time of the second round in 1970), McKenzie was appointed Vice Captain for 1970 (with Barry Davis appointed Captain). According to Mapleston,
Parallel dispute at Collingwood
Two other VFL players, Collingwood's ruckman Len Thompson (later, the 1972 Brownlow Medallist) and its captain Des TuddenhamDes Tuddenham
Desmond Vincent Tuddenham is a former Australian rules footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a half forward flanker....
(later, the captain-coach of Essendon 1972-1975), also went on "strike" at that time, and they did not train with Collingwood for three weeks. However "both players eventually agreed to the compromise involved in the League's offer, but Tuddenham was stripped of the captaincy" (Ross, 1996, p253).