TAC Cup: Siblings Tom and Ellie McKenzie making a mark at Northern Knights
PRESTON City Oval was akin to the McKenzie backyard last Sunday as siblings Tom and Ellie McKenzie produced starring roles for Northern Knights.
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ELLIE McKenzie must have been sick of reading about her older brother Tom.
Touted as one of TAC Cup club Northern Knights’ best AFL draft prospects this year, Tom McKenzie has averaged 24 disposals, three marks and five tackles in the opening three rounds of 2018 and has attracted interest from AFL scouts.
Last Sunday, with her older brother and his teammates watching on, it was Ellie’s turn to steal the show.
Playing her third TAC Cup Girls match, Ellie booted three goals in four minutes during the last quarter as the Knights stormed to a 14.4 (88) to 5.7 (37) victory over Oakleigh Chargers.
“She might have been best afield in that game and he was best afield,” Knights TAC Cup coach Justin Wenke, also an interested spectator, said.
“It was a pretty good day for the family.”
Ellie had a delayed start to the season due to injury, but the 174cm rising star has been described by her coach Marcus Abney-Hastings as a player who “sums up the game really quickly” and whose strengths include her speed and sideways movement.
“We are expecting her to continue to develop,” Abney-Hastings said.
Ellie highlighted her talent with junior club Fitzroy last season, booting 34 goals in 14 games.
“She is a gun footballer,” Fitzroy junior president Phil Murdoch said.
“She has got all the attributes in terms of physique, skill and talent. She would take it up to any of the boys.”
A post detailing the history of the Fitzroy Junior Football Club reveals she was the second female footballer to join the club in 2011, when she played as part of the its under-10 boys team.
“By about half an hour, she was the second girl to register for the Fitzroy Junior Football Club,” Murdoch said of McKenzie, from Northcote.
Ellie has been named best afield in undefeated Northern’s past two wins and was adjudged second best on debut in Round 3 against Sandringham Dragons.
She has represented Victoria at the School Sport Australia Championships and earned selection in the All-Australian side.
After his younger sister’s matchwinning effort, Tom responded with 26 possessions and two tackles in the Knights’ 25-point TAC Cup loss to Oakleigh.
“Leading possession winner on the ground and 10 clearances for us,” Wenke said.
“He put a really strong performance together and we are really excited with his role.”
Wenke praised Tom, who is listed at 183cm and 71kg, for his ability to transition to an inside midfield role this season after playing predominantly on a wing in his 11 games in 2017.
Murdoch said the siblings’ determination had been crucial to their rise.
“Certainly Ellie and Tom have got the skill,” Murdoch said.
“Tom’s not a big boy. I thought he might struggle given he’s physically not as big as the general crew.
“Clearly the determination has really got him a long way.
“When they reach that Northern Knights level there’s got to be a level of determination, skill and application to get there.”
Murdoch said Fitzroy took a holistic approach to developing its players, but recognised Tom and Ellie were “fantastic footballers”.
“You could always see both of them were skilful,” he said.
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