By Annalise Federico
Feeling free from the injuries that have hampered him over recent years and at the start of the 2023 season, Coburg’s Tom McKenzie is a 22-year-old that is on a mission.
Following his time in North Melbourne’s AFL and VFL programs, Tom joined Coburg in the leadup to the 2022 season and found a place in the team across half back for the Lions.
In 2023, McKenzie has moved into the Lions midfield under coach Jamie Cassidy-McNamara and has shown an ability to use his weapons and asked what Tom prides himself on, he explained that his kicking abilities and decision-making are what make him the best player he can be.
“As a player, I pride myself on my kicking and my decision-making around the ground. I feel that’s my biggest asset”.
Going back to the younger years, McKenzie’s love for football came via his passion as a Hawthorn supporter with his Dad being the first person to introduce him to the world of AFL.
“My Dad pretty much gave me no choice, he put me in a Hawthorn jumper, and I’ve supported them ever since”.
But despite being a Hawk’s fan, when asked about which players in the game he admires, he named Nick Daicos, explaining how he tries to base his game on the rising star winner.
“Just the fact that he is able to play multiple positions, he’s a great decision-maker and a kicker. And his ability to break lines is elite, which is something I admire and try to implement into my game”.
Looking back at McKenzie’s Football career, it’s hard to pass the 2018 Rookie draft in which he was drafted by the North Melbourne Football Club at pick number 10.
“Getting drafted following my time with the Northern Knights was an unreal feeling. It felt like I was beginning my journey to my dream career”.
But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for McKenzie. He sustained several injuries, in particular a stress fracture in his back, which stopped him from playing football for a long period of time.
“I was pretty unlucky. I had a stress fracture in my back during my time at North, which stopped me from playing any football during that year. Even more recently, I dislocated my AC joint and had to get it bolted back together. I also knocked a couple of teeth out during the 2023 pre-season and then got back from that and did my hamstring in round 1 this year”.
Despite the injuries, Tom has persevered and maintained a positive mindset to work hard. Although, it took some external support from family and friends to achieve what he has.
“Honestly, I sometimes struggled to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but Mum told me to take a positive from a negative. In terms of each injury, I looked at it as a way for me to improve different aspects of my football while I let my injury heal, but it’s also my internal want to improve that has helped me overcome those challenges.”
Due to being unable to showcase his talents at the AFL level, McKenzie was let go by North Melbourne Football Club at the end of 2019.
For 2020, Tom was due to play for North Melbourne in the VFL but the season was cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We spoke about playing for Coburg, but after a long process, I decided to stay at North VFL. But once covid hit and there was a chance to play for a stand-alone, I felt comfortable speaking with the coach and asking to play for Coburg”.
Since joining Coburg prior to the 2021 season, McKenzie has now played 26 games and kicked 3 goals.
Looking back at his time at Coburg since his debut in 2021, Tom expressed his best memory at the club; that being a win at home against the Gold Coast Suns.
“One of my most memorable moments here at Coburg was the win against Gold Coast last year. We played really well as a team and in terms of overall ball movement and chemistry it was one of our best games. I can’t wait to get that feeling again this season and I know we’re not far off now.”
But McKenzie’s time at Coburg is not over, after just recently signing on for another year. He expressed that his trust and faith in the playing group and coaching staff factored into his decision to re-sign.
“Even though things haven’t gone the way we have wanted them so far, this year I have faith in what Jamie is doing and the players that the club are bringing in”.
“I love the whole playing group. They are all great people that I enjoy playing with and I would hate to leave.”
He has also praised the new head coach Jamie Cassidy McNamara and feels the team is being challenged in a new but difficult way.
“He has built a belief into the playing group where players are comfortable making mistakes if they have good intentions behind them”.
“Even though the workload has increased, he has brought in a much more demanding and physically challenging pre-season than previous years I have been a part of.”
With the Mid-Season draft soon upcoming, McKenzie spoke about his future goals and high hopes for his Football career, as he is inspired to work his way back to AFL form.
“Looking to the future, I would of course hope to get drafted again and make my way back into the AFL system. But honestly, my main goal is to play out my career at the highest level and be the best player I know I can be.”
But playing for the Coburg Football Club is only one aspect of Tom’s life. Off the field, he works for one of the current sponsors of the club Johns Lyng Group. And he spends his free-time chilling at home, doing gym work, watching TV shows and movies and hanging out with his mates.
Despite the outcome of the mid-season draft, Tom is determined to play the best football he possibly can and is ready to take on any challenge that is brought his way.
