Ex-Norwood and North Melbourne player Brad McKenzie joins Adelaide Footy League club Payneham Norwood Union

Former North Melbourne and Norwood defender Brad McKenzie has joined a division one contender after a host of local clubs vied for his signature.

Brad McKenzie has achieved a lot in footy.

Drafted to the AFL, 37 games with North Melbourne, five seasons at Norwood including two best and fairests and a pair of Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year selections.

But there’s one box he is still desperate to tick.

“I’ve actually never won a premiership ever in my footy career,” McKenzie said.

The 28-year-old was unveiled as Payneham Norwood Union’s latest recruit on Thursday after he departed the Redlegs at the end of the season.

Payneham Norwood Union recruit Brad McKenzie (right) with Falcons coach Jeremy Cini. The former North Melbourne player has left Norwood and signed at the Adelaide Footy League club. Picture: Payneham Norwood Union Football Club

McKenzie said he received offers from several local clubs but a shot at winning an elusive flag with some close mates at the Adelaide Footy League division one contender was a key factor in choosing the Falcons.

“Payneham are always around the mark and that was a drawcard, to try and win a premiership with them,” he said.

“I had some good mates at other clubs who were trying pretty hard to get me across … it was a difficult decision and pretty overwhelming to be honest.

“I just felt like Payneham was the right fit especially with a lot of old school mates and a few ex-Norwood boys there as well and I’m looking forward to it.”

Brad McKenzie competes for the ball with Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston in 2016, which would prove to be his last season at the Kangaroos. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

McKenzie – a classy midfielder/half-back flanker – was drafted to North Melbourne from Sturt with pick 18 in 2011 national draft.

He played 37 games over five seasons at the Kangaroos, including 14 in 2016 before he was delisted at the end of that year.

The Eyre Peninsula-born left-footer then opted to join Norwood where he would go on to win the two Michael Taylor Medals and play in the losing 2018 grand final.

“I loved every minute of my time at Norwood and really enjoyed playing under Jade Rawlings our coach,” McKenzie said.

“But I started my own gardening business (BCM Garden Maintenance) at the beginning of the year and it’s getting so busy that in the end I was struggling to commit the time to run it and also the SANFL standard.

McKenzie is tackled by North’s Boyd Woodcock during the 2018 SANFL grand final. Picture: Sarah Reed

The midfielder/defender played 84 games for the Redlegs from 2017-2021. Picture: Tom Huntley

“I just decided I needed to put my business first, I’m 28 and it’s time to spend the last few years of my career playing local footy with mates.”

Those good friends include Anthony Giannini, who will be best man at McKenzie’s wedding, his brother and Falcons skipper Jonny plus a host of ex-Norwood and Marryatville High School mates.

He will also link back up with new PNU coach Jeremy Cini – an assistant during his time at the Redlegs.

McKenzie is set to head to Darwin next month to play a couple of games alongside the Giannini brothers and Pembroke Old Scholars and ex-Norwood forward Alex Forster for Northern Territory Football League side Banks Bulldogs.