OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list is completely subjective, the opinion is that of the individual author.
#6 Ellie McKenzie (Richmond)
DOB: 17/10/2002
Height: 176cm
Position: Forward
Games: 26
Former number one pick Ellie McKenzie is entering her fourth season in the yellow and black since joining the Tigers ahead of Season 5 in 2021. Coming through the junior pathway, McKenzie played in a premiership for the Northern Knights at Coates Talent League level and made the AFLW Under 18 All-Australian team as a bottom-ager. Her 2020 season curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic where she averaged 19 disposals and five marks in three games.
The lack of matches did not dull the interest in her from clubs, having more than shown enough talent to suggest she was deserving of the top pick. Since then, she has played 26 games, and won a Best First Year Player back in Season 5. Though she was limited to six AFL Women’s games in Season 6 from a calf injury, she bounced back by playing all 11 matches for the Tigers in Season 7.
SEASON 7 KEY STATS:
Games: 11
Goals: 3
Disposals: 15.0
Disposal Efficiency: 60.6
Marks: 3.3
Clearances: 2.0
Metres Gained: 235.5
Tackles: 3.0
Inside 50s: 2.5
Intercepts: 1.8
Score Involvements: 2.8
Time of Ground %: 85.4
McKenzie spent the year essentially playing midfield and then rotating forward, where she managed double-digit disposals in each of her 11 matches. The Tigers jet is one player who can create plenty of run and carry between the arcs, so adds a massive point of difference on the outside as well as the inside. Though she only kicked the three goals in Season 7, she had four or more marks in six matches and greater than 200 metres gained in eight games.
Some highlights of her season included the Round 3 win over Hawthorn with 17 disposals, five marks, two tackles and 305 metres gained, and the semi-final loss to North Melbourne. In that do-or-die final, McKenzie did all she could to get her side over the line with 19 disposals and a season-high six marks and five clearances, while picking up 220 metres gained.
LOOKING AHEAD
Ellie McKenzie will have enjoyed the extra off-season to continue to build on her upwards trajectory. While teammate Monique Conti will almost always draw the attention from opposition teams, McKenzie has the explosiveness and power to do a lot of damage as well. Though she has always shown herself to be a star at this level, she is one who could win more the ball and increase her hurt factor ten-fold by hitting the scoreboard. Tigers fans should be excited by what she could become.
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