Former Gold Coast Sun returns to roots, eager to prove he still has what it takes to play at AFL level

It took several exemption rejections and the mandatory two week quarantine period, but prized Tiger recruit Mackenzie Willis will make his first TSL appearance since being drafted in 2015

Former Gold Coast Sun Mackenzie Willis has finished his quarantine requirements and will suit up for the Tigers this weekend against Lauderdale. Picture: Zak Simmonds

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A BURNING desire to prove he has the attributes to flourish at AFL level has Mackenzie Willis primed to take the second half of the TSL season by storm.

The Tigers will finally roll out their boom 2020 signing this weekend, with the former junior star completing his mandatory quarantine requirements since returning home from Queensland.

Drafted by Gold Coast in 2015, Willis played five matches across 2016-17 before tearing his ACL early in 2018.

It cost him the remainder of the year and he was delisted by the Suns at season’s end.

Willis lit up the NEAFL for Southport last year but with the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the second-tier competition, he contacted Tigers coach Trent Baumeler about returning to Tasmania.

A lengthy process finally saw the 24-year-old arrived a fortnight ago, and he will be unleashed against Lauderdale in the crunch clash at Twin Ovals.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity to come back … when the NEAFL season was done and dusted I got straight on the phone to Trent and try to make this thing happen,” Willis said.

“It was a hard couple of weeks trying to get it done but really excited to be here.

“The AFL was a tough time towards the end, obviously doing my ACL and missing out on my third year, which was pretty frustrating because I was starting to feel like I was coming into my own gaining more maturity.

Mackenzie Willis kicks for goal for the Tigers in 2015. PICTURE: Sam Rosewarne

“A lot of life lessons learned and I have built a lot of resilience, but I certainly haven’t given up, that’s why I have come down here to play at the highest level I can.”

Willis has no ill feelings towards his exit from the AFL, but is firmly focused on earning a second chance if he can bring his best form to the State League.

He said earlier this year there was some interest from AFL clubs before the coronavirus crisis hit.

“The AFL is a brutal business. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to go my way, there was such big list changes every year and ultimately it wasn’t a great position to be in being injured.

“Because I played a fair few games in my second year and had a taste of it, I felt I was starting to get the hang of it.

“I had a really good pre-season in my third year, when the injury happened I was focused on coming back better and bigger and stronger.

“I certainly feel I have improved in terms of a lot of physical things since then, I am doing things I wasn’t capable of while I was in the system, I have ticked a lot of those boxes while being out.

“That’s why I’m really hungry to have an opportunity to get back in there and prove I am good enough.

“I will try and prove in the next six, seven weeks that I am still here and a capable player at that level.”

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