MIDFIELDER Jordie McKenzie speaks to Matt Burgan about his role on Brendon Goddard, who he is modelling his game on, and how he feels about returning to Geelong this round …
MB: Thanks for your time, Jordie. Last Saturday night, the Dees produced their best effort for the season, but fell 18 points short. How did you assess the match against St Kilda?
JM: It was definitely an improved effort. We’ve been able to build on each week as the season has gone on. We’re obviously not happy with the performance, so we know we’ve still got a long way to go. We’ve been a bit more consistent over the four quarters with our pressure, and we’ll be hard to play against this week. We need to keep improving, if we want to beat some good sides like St Kilda. But we’ve still got a long way to go.
MB: There were some good individual performances, highlighted by your game on Brendon Goddard. Can you talk about your mindset for that role?
JM: Goddard is one of their playmakers, and a very damaging player with his skills. I just wanted to minimise his impact and not give him the space, because that’s where he does a lot of damage. It was a good battle over four quarters, and a good experience to go against superstars like Goddard. I learned a lot from it.
MB: Tom McDonald was another to impress, with his display on St Kilda superstar Nick Riewoldt.
JM: He was awesome on Riewoldt. He’s really fit, and had a great pre-season, so he was a good match-up for Riewoldt. I reckon they’re going to have some good battles in the future.
MB: You’ve been given some big jobs and claimed some scalps this year. How have you found that challenge?
JM: I’ve been lucky enough to get the faith from Choco (Brian Royal) and Neeldy (Mark Neeld) to go against good players and they’ve all been great experiences against the likes of [Ryan] Griffen and [Trent] Cotchin - they’re all great players. You learn so much from week to week. Whether it’s my role every week, I’m not sure. I’m just happy to do whatever they tell me to each week. I’m happy to accept that challenge in the midfield.
MB: How has playing on the likes of Daniel Kerr, Trent Cotchin, Ryan Griffen and Brendon Goddard helped your game?
JM: I reckon it’s given me a bigger responsibility on some of these key playmakers. In the past, the roles have been shared and that’s the direction we’re heading, with blokes like Jimmy Magner going against key playmakers like Matty Boyd the other week. You mature as a footballer and hopefully we’ll get a few more roles in the future.
MB: Have you modelled your game on someone like Cameron Ling, because of your role?
JM: He’s definitely a real benchmark for that role, and Brett Kirk is as well. Why they were so good is that they weren’t overly negative and they were really hard to play against, but they’d still win their own footy. I reckon that’s where you can provide your most impact for your team. You need to still hurt them the other way and make your opponent defend.
MB: Winning more of the ball is the next step in your development. How will you build that area?
JM: It’s definitely an area I want to try and keep developing, if I do have a similar role. Those players like Ling and Kirk are the real benchmark and even [Andrew] Carrazzo on [Scott] Pendlebury the other week was going the other way. It’s very much a fitness thing too, so it’s something I’m keen to keep developing. Hopefully a full pre-season under the belt might help develop that area a bit more. I look forward to keeping on improving.
MB: This Saturday, Melbourne returns to Geelong for the first time since last year’s round 19 debacle. How do you reflect on that match?
JM: It was a shocking day for the club and you try and forget about it, because it was so embarrassing, to be honest. We’ve put a lot of work in since late last year, and they’ve given us a bit of a touch up, so it’s going to be a massive opportunity for us. Geelong is still the benchmark and they’ve had a reasonably solid start to the year, so it’s going to be a massive opportunity to see how far we’ve come. We see it as a winnable game, so we’re going to go down there and take it to them and hopefully it’s a more enjoyable trip back to Melbourne this time.
MB: What was it like playing that day and then having to walk off the ground from a 186-point loss?
JM: It was massive. There was a lot going on and a lot to take in. The overriding feel was how embarrassing it was to be involved in such a humiliating defeat. There’s no point dwelling on it too much, because we can’t change it, but it was a day that you try and forget a lot. It was one you look back on and use it to see how far we’ve come. We really hope that defeats like that are a thing of the past, and we’re all determined to be a side that’s hard to play against. Losses like that are going to be eradicated if we’re going to keep working hard.
MB: Based on Melbourne’s past two rounds, do you believe the players are at their most confident entering a match this season, despite the enormity of Geelong?
JM: Definitely. We’ve been more competitive over the past couple of weeks, so you take that confidence into this week, knowing that if you do compete over four quarters that we’re going to be hard to play against. We want to be a real competitive team that can challenge those good sides. I reckon we’re definitely building. Everyone has been working their backside off on the training track, and the spirit is still upbeat.
MB: Can you feel a difference in the side since Melbourne’s round four effort against the Western Bulldogs?
JM: Despite not having a win, we feel we are heading in the right direction and improving each week. We do know we’ve still got a long way to go, if we’re going to challenge these top four sides like Geelong. We’re confident we can be really competitive against them. Hopefully we’ll go down there and knock them off. It’s a game that everyone is looking forward to, and hopefully we can measure how far we’ve come, so it should be a good contest and I can’t wait.
MB: What do you expect from the team this round?
JM: We’ll prepare for Geelong like any other team and we’ll put a lot of work into them. We’ll stick to what we do best and hopefully there will be enough to challenge them. As far as the actual game last year, we haven’t touched on it, and there is no point dwelling on it too much. We’re going to focus on what we can control, and that’s putting together the game plan and really challenging Geelong. Hopefully we’ll beat them, so that’s where all of the energy is being put this week.
MB: Based on the improvement from the past two weeks, where do you see Melbourne by the end of the season?
JM: If we can continue to build - and we’ve had a slow start to the year five weeks in - we’ve got to make sure we continually improve. Training has been a real highlight this year, so you can build momentum with that as well. So we’re really going to drive that and make sure that’s the case as the year goes on. If we do that, we’ll be competitive for a large sum of the year - if not all of it. That’s the big aim, even though we know we’ve got a long way to go, and we’ve got plenty of building blocks in place. All the boys are heading in the right direction, as far as working hard. If we continue to work hard, hopefully the results will come on the scoreboard.
MB: This is your fourth AFL season. How have you found your journey so far?
JM: It’s a bit surreal lining up on some of the good players and being involved in the AFL system. I’m really privileged every day to call the Melbourne footy club my home as far as a job - if that’s what you call it. Like every kid who loves their footy, it’s a dream to play AFL, and to be given that opportunity over the last four years is a real honour and one I definitely don’t take for granted.
MB: Add another four years on, where do you see your career at?
JM: I hope I can build on these four years and stick with Melbourne for as long as I can and enjoy the success we’re all after. Hopefully in the next four years, we’ll have more success, which is what we’re all working really hard for, and we can go forward with the Dees.
MB: Well done on your efforts so far, particularly last round, and best wishes for Saturday.
JM: Thanks Matty.
MB: Thanks for your time, Jordie. Last Saturday night, the Dees produced their best effort for the season, but fell 18 points short. How did you assess the match against St Kilda?
JM: It was definitely an improved effort. We’ve been able to build on each week as the season has gone on. We’re obviously not happy with the performance, so we know we’ve still got a long way to go. We’ve been a bit more consistent over the four quarters with our pressure, and we’ll be hard to play against this week. We need to keep improving, if we want to beat some good sides like St Kilda. But we’ve still got a long way to go.
MB: There were some good individual performances, highlighted by your game on Brendon Goddard. Can you talk about your mindset for that role?
JM: Goddard is one of their playmakers, and a very damaging player with his skills. I just wanted to minimise his impact and not give him the space, because that’s where he does a lot of damage. It was a good battle over four quarters, and a good experience to go against superstars like Goddard. I learned a lot from it.
MB: Tom McDonald was another to impress, with his display on St Kilda superstar Nick Riewoldt.
JM: He was awesome on Riewoldt. He’s really fit, and had a great pre-season, so he was a good match-up for Riewoldt. I reckon they’re going to have some good battles in the future.
MB: You’ve been given some big jobs and claimed some scalps this year. How have you found that challenge?
JM: I’ve been lucky enough to get the faith from Choco (Brian Royal) and Neeldy (Mark Neeld) to go against good players and they’ve all been great experiences against the likes of [Ryan] Griffen and [Trent] Cotchin - they’re all great players. You learn so much from week to week. Whether it’s my role every week, I’m not sure. I’m just happy to do whatever they tell me to each week. I’m happy to accept that challenge in the midfield.
MB: How has playing on the likes of Daniel Kerr, Trent Cotchin, Ryan Griffen and Brendon Goddard helped your game?
JM: I reckon it’s given me a bigger responsibility on some of these key playmakers. In the past, the roles have been shared and that’s the direction we’re heading, with blokes like Jimmy Magner going against key playmakers like Matty Boyd the other week. You mature as a footballer and hopefully we’ll get a few more roles in the future.
MB: Have you modelled your game on someone like Cameron Ling, because of your role?
JM: He’s definitely a real benchmark for that role, and Brett Kirk is as well. Why they were so good is that they weren’t overly negative and they were really hard to play against, but they’d still win their own footy. I reckon that’s where you can provide your most impact for your team. You need to still hurt them the other way and make your opponent defend.
MB: Winning more of the ball is the next step in your development. How will you build that area?
JM: It’s definitely an area I want to try and keep developing, if I do have a similar role. Those players like Ling and Kirk are the real benchmark and even [Andrew] Carrazzo on [Scott] Pendlebury the other week was going the other way. It’s very much a fitness thing too, so it’s something I’m keen to keep developing. Hopefully a full pre-season under the belt might help develop that area a bit more. I look forward to keeping on improving.
MB: This Saturday, Melbourne returns to Geelong for the first time since last year’s round 19 debacle. How do you reflect on that match?
JM: It was a shocking day for the club and you try and forget about it, because it was so embarrassing, to be honest. We’ve put a lot of work in since late last year, and they’ve given us a bit of a touch up, so it’s going to be a massive opportunity for us. Geelong is still the benchmark and they’ve had a reasonably solid start to the year, so it’s going to be a massive opportunity to see how far we’ve come. We see it as a winnable game, so we’re going to go down there and take it to them and hopefully it’s a more enjoyable trip back to Melbourne this time.
MB: What was it like playing that day and then having to walk off the ground from a 186-point loss?
JM: It was massive. There was a lot going on and a lot to take in. The overriding feel was how embarrassing it was to be involved in such a humiliating defeat. There’s no point dwelling on it too much, because we can’t change it, but it was a day that you try and forget a lot. It was one you look back on and use it to see how far we’ve come. We really hope that defeats like that are a thing of the past, and we’re all determined to be a side that’s hard to play against. Losses like that are going to be eradicated if we’re going to keep working hard.
MB: Based on Melbourne’s past two rounds, do you believe the players are at their most confident entering a match this season, despite the enormity of Geelong?
JM: Definitely. We’ve been more competitive over the past couple of weeks, so you take that confidence into this week, knowing that if you do compete over four quarters that we’re going to be hard to play against. We want to be a real competitive team that can challenge those good sides. I reckon we’re definitely building. Everyone has been working their backside off on the training track, and the spirit is still upbeat.
MB: Can you feel a difference in the side since Melbourne’s round four effort against the Western Bulldogs?
JM: Despite not having a win, we feel we are heading in the right direction and improving each week. We do know we’ve still got a long way to go, if we’re going to challenge these top four sides like Geelong. We’re confident we can be really competitive against them. Hopefully we’ll go down there and knock them off. It’s a game that everyone is looking forward to, and hopefully we can measure how far we’ve come, so it should be a good contest and I can’t wait.
MB: What do you expect from the team this round?
JM: We’ll prepare for Geelong like any other team and we’ll put a lot of work into them. We’ll stick to what we do best and hopefully there will be enough to challenge them. As far as the actual game last year, we haven’t touched on it, and there is no point dwelling on it too much. We’re going to focus on what we can control, and that’s putting together the game plan and really challenging Geelong. Hopefully we’ll beat them, so that’s where all of the energy is being put this week.
MB: Based on the improvement from the past two weeks, where do you see Melbourne by the end of the season?
JM: If we can continue to build - and we’ve had a slow start to the year five weeks in - we’ve got to make sure we continually improve. Training has been a real highlight this year, so you can build momentum with that as well. So we’re really going to drive that and make sure that’s the case as the year goes on. If we do that, we’ll be competitive for a large sum of the year - if not all of it. That’s the big aim, even though we know we’ve got a long way to go, and we’ve got plenty of building blocks in place. All the boys are heading in the right direction, as far as working hard. If we continue to work hard, hopefully the results will come on the scoreboard.
MB: This is your fourth AFL season. How have you found your journey so far?
JM: It’s a bit surreal lining up on some of the good players and being involved in the AFL system. I’m really privileged every day to call the Melbourne footy club my home as far as a job - if that’s what you call it. Like every kid who loves their footy, it’s a dream to play AFL, and to be given that opportunity over the last four years is a real honour and one I definitely don’t take for granted.
MB: Add another four years on, where do you see your career at?
JM: I hope I can build on these four years and stick with Melbourne for as long as I can and enjoy the success we’re all after. Hopefully in the next four years, we’ll have more success, which is what we’re all working really hard for, and we can go forward with the Dees.
MB: Well done on your efforts so far, particularly last round, and best wishes for Saturday.
JM: Thanks Matty.
