IN a new exciting collaborative countdown, Rookie Me Central has teamed up with other independent media organisations to bring a 2022 AFL Women’s Top 50 Countdown. Every weekday from now until December 17, a new player will be named starting from 50th down to 1st, stemming from a combined eight Top 50 submissions. Among those who submitted Top 50s include Siren Sport‘s Gemma Bastiani, Women’s Australian Rules Football (WARF) Radio‘s Peter Holden, and a combined Outer Sanctum team’s Top 50.

Today we continue our countdown with number 26, Richmond Women’s Ellie McKenzie.

Ellie McKenzie

Richmond

League/s: AFLW, Vflw, Coates Talent League Girls, AFLW U18 Championships

Season/s: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, S7, 2023, 2024

• Games [tot]: 45

• Goals [tot]: 16

• Disposals [avg]: 14.7

• Marks [avg]: 2.8

• Tackles [avg]: 2.7

• Cont. Poss: 4.2

• Uncont. Poss: 4.9

• Clearances: 1.6

• Inside 50s: 2.7

• Rebound 50s: 0.8

Just twelve months after being selected as the number one pick in the 2020 AFL Women’s National Draft, Richmond’s McKenzie has bolted her way into 26th for the league ahead of the 2022 season. Like Kate Hore in yesterday’s countdown, McKenzie was one who divided opinions, with some expecting a huge season from the teenager next year, whilst others were more conservative in their ranking. The powerful youngster has an outstanding highlight reel, and is not afraid to take the game on and break the lines.

It is always a challenge coming out of the Under 18s where you have been nominated as the best player in the country, and subsequently taken at Pick 1. The Northern Knights junior averaged 19 disposals and five marks for the Knights in her top-age season from just three games, showcasing her versatility. Even as a bottom-ager it was clear McKenzie was among the top few to be putting their hand up for AFL Women’s. She took to the elite level like a duck to water, averaging 15.6 disposals, 3.0 marks and 2.9 tackles, providing plenty of run between the arcs, and winning the hard ball. She booted four goals in her nine games, but has plenty more to come.

Being in a team that struggled at times, McKenzie was a shining light, as the Tigers showed improvement from their 2020 season, to give hope to fans for 2022. Their top selection in the draft is a huge reason behind it, and she could just as easily play forward, mid or even back if required, though her best work is done in the front half of the ground out of stoppages. Like Hore, McKenzie was a divided selection in this range, with all five of the eight lists putting her between 20-30, whilst the other three had her outside the Top 50. With everyone above McKenzie on at least seven – and predominantly all eight – lists, the Tigers talent is the highest ranked of those not in the complete consensus.

ROOKIE ME CENTRAL’S 2022 AFL WOMEN’S TOP 50

#50 Ash Brazill(Collingwood) | ARTICLE
#49 Tayla Harris (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#48 Courtney Hodder (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#47 Eden Zanker (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#46 Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs) | ARTICLE
#45 Tyanna Smith (St Kilda) | ARTICLE
#44 Breanna Koenen (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#43 Dana Hooker (West Coast) | ARTICLE
#42 Georgie Prespakis (Geelong) | ARTICLE
#41 Breann Moody (Carlton) | ARTICLE
#40 Hayley Miller (Fremantle) | ARTICLE
#39 Emma King (North Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#38 Dakota Davidson (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#37 Meghan McDonald (Geelong) | ARTICLE
#36 Stacey Livingstone (Collingwood) | ARTICLE
#35 Daisy Pearce (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#34 Rebecca Beeson (GWS) | ARTICLE
#33 Sarah Allan (Adelaide) | ARTICLE
#32 Kerryn Harrington (Carlton) | ARTICLE
#31 Janelle Cuthbertson (Fremantle) | ARTICLE
#30 Emily Bates (Brisbane) | ARTICLE
#29 Katie Brennan (Richmond) | ARTICLE
#28 Gemma Houghton (Fremantle) | ARTICLE
#27 Kate Hore (Melbourne) | ARTICLE
#26 Ellie McKenzie (Richmond)

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