JORDIE McKenzie has played down his outstanding performance on key Essendon playmaker Brent Stanton during last Sunday’s thriller at the MCG. 

The humble McKenzie acknowledged it was an important role he fulfilled – he kept Stanton to 13 disposals – as Melbourne produced a spectacular come from behind one-point win.

“I was reasonably pleased. It was a good challenge. I’ve played on him before. He’s a good runner and I knew I had to work pretty hard to limit his output,” he said.

“Everyone’s working hard to tick their role off, because when we do that, we know we’re a good chance of winning. Now, we’re having a lot more players play their role.

“It was a good challenge playing on [Stanton].”

McKenzie, who kept Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett to just 19 disposals in round 20 at Metricon Stadium last year, said Stanton was a dangerous and quality opponent.

“There were a couple of times late in the game, when I lost him a little bit and he really hurt us,” he said.

“I’m still trying to work on hurting [oppositions] the other way too, but first and foremost, I try and limit their output.

“Overall, it was OK, but I’ve still got some areas to work on and I’ll keep working on them to develop.”

McKenzie, who played his 72^nd match, said the win was one of the finest moments he’s experienced at the Demons.

“It was a great victory. Luckily for us, they (Essendon) didn’t take their chances in front of goal, so that kept us in it,” he said.

“It was good to get back and play the footy that we know we can in the second half. It was great to stick together and hang in there, which gave us the chance to win.

“It all worked out well in the end and it was a great feeling when the siren went.”

McKenzie said it was a great moment when youngster Christian Salem finished off a fine passage of play with the match-winning goal.

“The adrenaline was definitely pumping. Saleo is a great kick and a great set-shot for goal, so it was a great effort from a young kid to finish off the piece of play,” he said.

“For the siren to then go when we were one point up was one of the best feelings I’ve had in footy to date.

“It was great to be involved in that little bit of play [that helped set up the Salem goal].”

Looking ahead to this Sunday’s twilight clash against North Melbourne at the MCG, McKenzie said it was a “massive game”.

“They’ve definitely been a side that we’ve had a couple of close ones with, but we haven’t beaten them in a long time, so it’s going to be a really good challenge,” he said.

“We haven’t won two in a row this year, so it’s a massive opportunity to keep building some momentum.

“It’s going to be another big challenge, but the boys are looking forward to working hard and hopefully stringing a couple together.”