Central District’s Isaya McKenzie to train with West Coast in the hope of grabbing AFL rookie contract
Central District may be without speedy forward Isaya McKenzie this season after he was invited to train with West Coast in Perth, in a bid to earn a spot on their playing list.
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Central District speedster Isaya McKenzie has enhanced his hopes of being picked up in the AFL pre-season supplemental draft after being invited to train with West Coast.
McKenzie joined the Eagles on Monday for pre-season training and he has three months to impress the club in his bid to earn a rookie contract.
Since making his league debut for the Bulldogs in 2016, the 22-year-old small forward has made 36 appearances in the club’s top side and kicked 37 goals.
However, he played the last four rounds plus the finals in the reserves this season.
McKenzie has trained with the Bulldogs since they started pre-season in early November under new coach Jeff Andrews and will work with the Eagles for the next 10 days.
He will then train with the Bulldogs for another week, as well as do extra work requested by West Coast.
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Following the Christmas break, he will train in Perth until the supplementary draft in February.
Bulldogs chief executive Kris Grant said it was a tremendous opportunity for McKenzie, but it was also an awkward situation for his club.
“It is an opportunity he cannot knock back if he wants to play in the AFL,” Grant said.
“But we won’t know if we have got him for next season until the pre-season draft when the Eagles make a decision.”
McKenzie represented South Australia in the 2015 under 18 national championships and nominated for the draft last week, only to be overlooked.
His game relies heavily on his pace and evasive skills, although inconsistency has been an issue.
After starting the past season in the reserves, McKenzie played 10 league games and kicked three goals before his form dropped and he fell out of favour with selectors.