AFL Mackay: How a trio of mates from WA shaped the Saints success
Five premierships, three mates from WA, two unlikely moves and one dynasty. A deep-dive into what made the Saints AFL Mackay’s most successful team.
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Luke Slater came to Mackay to visit some mates for their birthday.
A brief holiday, or so he thought.
He’s now called Mackay home for the past five years, and following Saturday’s AFL Mackay grand final triumph, has claimed five premierships with the North Mackay Saints for his troubles.
As have those mates Slater came to visit, Cameron Hill and Jackson Perkins, with the Western Australian trio forming an integral part of the Saints dynasty, which now holds the record for most consecutive AFL Mackay premierships.
Slater never thought life would pan out this way.
“I said to myself, ‘if I last 12 months here, then that’s my goal achieved’,” Slater said.
“I came over for their birthday… met all the footy boys, and it went really well.”
By the end of his trip, Slater was hooked.
“I booked my one-way ticket while I was sitting in the airport,” he said.
That was November of 2018, and Slater was true to his word. By January, he was living in Mackay.
Hill and Perkins - who happen to share the same birthday - had also moved from Western Australia at the start of 2018, and arrived at the Saints to follow in the footsteps of Cameron’s dad David, who wore the red, white, and black for four seasons in the 1990s.
Women’s premiership coach James Gallagher, who played seniors for North Mackay since 2003 and captained the first premiership of the streak, couldn’t speak highly enough of the trio and their influence.
“Absolutely when they came… you could clearly see the ability,” Gallagher said.
“Culturally on and off the field these boys make everyone gel, they’re as important on the field as they are off it.
“Jackson Perkins, he’s ‘the bull’, the most underrated player.
“Luke Slater’s an absolute weapon, anyone in this league will understand the ability that he has to break a game open and take it by the scruff of the neck.
“Cameron Hill, who we call ‘rexy’, he’s already kicked a matchwinner after the siren this year, he’s already got a league medal around his neck, he is the glue to all the boys.”
Don’t be fooled however, as central as the trio’s been to the Saints’ successes over the past five seasons, the roots of the dynasty run deeper than a triumvirate of fortuitous imports.
“It starts with the committee, it starts with good people, who are normally volunteers,” Gallagher said.
“Behind those scenes, they listen to the players that have been there for a while, and in doing so, they can come up with tactical plans.”
Craig Jenkins took over the coaching reins in 2017, and he would oversee four premierships an unbeaten run that eclipsed three seasons, stepping away at the end of 2022.
Jenkins listened, he innovated, and he had a vision. One that looking back is almost prophetic is its accuracy.
According to Gallagher, higher interchange rates, better zoning and structure, plus learning from “ass-kickings,” - including a 115-point smashing at the hands of Mackay City in 2017 - moulded the Saints into the juggernaut they are today.
“(Jenkins also) knew that our off-field culture had to pick up,” Gallagher said.
“Whether it was a barbecue at his house, whatever it might be, but he would do this constantly to make sure there was consistency in us being together off field.”
Slater lauded the club’s culture.
“It’s probably one of the main reasons we’ve all stuck around for so long,” Slater said.
“It’s a really well-grounded club. Doesn’t matter if you’re a senior player, ressies player, women’s player, spectator, you’re all part of it.”
Slater and his close mates Hill and Perkins, who all met in the infancy of their teenage years playing under-14s cricket in WA, are certainly grateful they got to be part of it.
“I came over with the aim of maybe winning one and to see how it goes.
“But to win five, no one’s ever done that in this league.
“It’s pretty special.”
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