Central District’s Isaya McKenzie determined to prove his worth at West Coast over next three months
West Coast’s decision to give Central District’s Isaya McKenzie a chance to vie for a rookie contract shocked the speedster himself. But he’s now taking the opportunity with both hands.
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Isaya McKenzie felt his dream of playing AFL slipping through his fingers.
West Coast had shown interest at the beginning of this year but the Central District small forward’s form in the SANFL dipped mid-season.
He found himself on the outer and, as battling poor form and injuries, played the last four rounds plus the finals in the reserves.
But much to McKenzie’s shock, West Coast could still see his potential.
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Last week, the Eagles invited McKenzie to train with them in Perth for three months, giving him a chance to earn a rookie contract as part of the AFL’s pre-season supplemental draft.
McKenzie, 22, is now determined to give this opportunity everything.
“I didn’t have a great year,” he admits.
“I was playing a bit of league and trying to play through some injuries – cracked ribs and what not.
“Then after a couple of league games, I got dropped into the ressies.
“That’s when I figured they (West Coast) had probably gone cold on me and thought there’s no way they’d want to pick me up now.
“It was hard as I thought my chance had gone.
“But my manager said they didn’t really mind that I was playing ressies, they just wanted to see me get fit and they said I had a couple of attributes they liked.
“It’s three months – I have an opportunity now, and I just have to show them what I can do.”
McKenzie made his league debut for Central in 2016 and has kicked 37 goals from 36 appearances.
A left-footer renowned for his speed and evasive skills, he nominated for last month’s AFL draft but was overlooked before West Coast’s swoop.
He will train with the Eagles for the next week before returning to Adelaide for the Christmas break.
Then it’s back to Perth on January 6, with more training until mid-March to prove his worth.
McKenzie says West Coast’s culture has really impressed him in the past week.
“Superstars like Josh Kennedy and Shannon Hurn, (Jeremy) McGovern, they are all genuinely nice blokes.
“They really look after us Aboriginals and the Aboriginal community with the Wirrpanda Foundation, which I’d love to be involved in if I was to be given a chance.”
The newly-introduced supplemental selection period enabled Richmond to secure livewire Sydney Stack for this season, while Melbourne signed delisted ex-Bomber Mitch Brown last week for the 2020 campaign.
McKenzie, who has taken three-months’ leave from his job as a cultural officer at Aboriginal Family Support Services, is unsure if West Coast will offer him a contract.
But he says it is a risk worth taking.
“It would mean everything to get a contract – a dream come true, really.