Jordie McKenzie
Encyclopedia
Jordie McKenzie is an Australian rules football
er, who plays for the Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
town of Terang
. As a youth he supported the West Coast Eagles
. McKenzie played for TAC Cup
team, the Geelong Falcons
, a team well known for producing many AFL players. He had an injury interrupted two seasons for the Falcons, due to corrective hip surgery, not playing at all in 2007 and playing only 10 games in 2008.
, but after being invited to train with the Melbourne Football Club
for two weeks he was taken by the Demons with the first selection in the 2009 Rookie Draft.
affiliate side, the Casey Scorpions
, for the first half of the 2009 season
, McKenzie was rewarded by being promoted to the club's senior list on 23 July 2009. McKenzie made his debut for Melbourne in Round 17, 2009 against the Sydney Swans
in Canberra
at Manuka Oval
. He played two more games for the Dees in 2009, in Rounds 21 and 22, with his best game coming against Carlton
, when he amassed 16 disposals and laid eight tackles.
, offered him a spot on the Crows' senior list, whereas Melbourne could only offer McKenzie a spot on their rookie list, with the chance that he might be promoted to the senior list during the year. McKenzie, however, chose to repay the Demons for the faith they had put in him, by recruiting him originally, and he stayed with Melbourne, despite the possibility of reduced opportunities.
The fear that Mckenzie would have a lack of opportunities was soon relieved as he was promoted to the senior list prior to the beginning of the 2010 season
, due to Max Gawn
's long term injury. McKenzie has become a mainstay of the Melbourne midfield during the season and, along with other young players, such as Jack Watts
, Tom Scully
and Jack Trengove
, is considered to be the future of the club. He has also been noted for his stoppage work, particularly his clearances and tackling ability.
Despite not receiving a Rising Star nomination throughout the year, McKenzie finished the 2010 season by winning Melbourne's Coach's Award. As a reward for his performance during the season, McKenzie was elevated to Melbourne's senior list with the 81st selection in the 2010 AFL Draft
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, who plays for the Melbourne Football Club
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....
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Early life
McKenzie grew up in the rural VictorianVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
town of Terang
Terang, Victoria
Terang is a small Australian town situated in Corangamite Shire in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, on the Princes Highway 212 km south-west of the state's capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Terang had a population of 2256...
. As a youth he supported the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. McKenzie played for TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
team, the Geelong Falcons
Geelong Falcons
The Geelong Falcons are a junior Australian rules football representative club in the TAC Cup competition, Victoria, Australia.The club takes in talented junior players from the Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool regions in order to groom them for AFL selection...
, a team well known for producing many AFL players. He had an injury interrupted two seasons for the Falcons, due to corrective hip surgery, not playing at all in 2007 and playing only 10 games in 2008.
Draft
McKenzie was overlooked in the 2008 AFL Draft2008 AFL Draft
The 2008 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft...
, but after being invited to train with the Melbourne Football Club
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....
for two weeks he was taken by the Demons with the first selection in the 2009 Rookie Draft.
Season 2009
After playing well for the Demons' VFLVictorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
affiliate side, the Casey Scorpions
Casey Scorpions
The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships...
, for the first half of the 2009 season
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
, McKenzie was rewarded by being promoted to the club's senior list on 23 July 2009. McKenzie made his debut for Melbourne in Round 17, 2009 against the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
at Manuka Oval
Manuka Oval
Manuka Oval is a 13,550 capacity ground located in the suburb of Griffith, adjacent to Manuka, a business district of Canberra, Australia's capital....
. He played two more games for the Dees in 2009, in Rounds 21 and 22, with his best game coming against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
, when he amassed 16 disposals and laid eight tackles.
Season 2010
During the offseason McKenzie was the subject of interest from Adelaide. Adelaide coach, Neil CraigNeil Craig
Neil P. Craig is a former Australian rules footballer, fitness adviser and former coach of the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League . As of 2012, he will be based in a new role as the Director of Sports Performance at the Melbourne Football Club...
, offered him a spot on the Crows' senior list, whereas Melbourne could only offer McKenzie a spot on their rookie list, with the chance that he might be promoted to the senior list during the year. McKenzie, however, chose to repay the Demons for the faith they had put in him, by recruiting him originally, and he stayed with Melbourne, despite the possibility of reduced opportunities.
The fear that Mckenzie would have a lack of opportunities was soon relieved as he was promoted to the senior list prior to the beginning of the 2010 season
2010 AFL season
-Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22...
, due to Max Gawn
Max Gawn
Max Gawn is an Australian rules footballer for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League .Gawn was selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2009 AFL Draft by the Melbourne Demons. He was recruited from the Sandringham Dragons...
's long term injury. McKenzie has become a mainstay of the Melbourne midfield during the season and, along with other young players, such as Jack Watts
Jack Watts (Australian footballer)
Jack Watts is an Australian rules footballer for the Melbourne Football Club, in the Australian Football League . He had a promising junior career and was the number one draft pick in the 2008 AFL Draft.-Early life:...
, Tom Scully
Tom Scully
Thomas "Tom" Scully is an Australian rules footballer, currently contracted to in the Australian Football League . He previously played for ....
and Jack Trengove
Jack Trengove
Jack Trengove is an Australian rules footballer for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
, is considered to be the future of the club. He has also been noted for his stoppage work, particularly his clearances and tackling ability.
Despite not receiving a Rising Star nomination throughout the year, McKenzie finished the 2010 season by winning Melbourne's Coach's Award. As a reward for his performance during the season, McKenzie was elevated to Melbourne's senior list with the 81st selection in the 2010 AFL Draft
2010 AFL Draft
The 2010 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2010/11 Australian Football League off-season. These are the Trade Week; held between , the National Draft; held on the , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .This is the first national draft to feature the...
.