JORDIE McKenzie’s effort – and Melbourne’s ability to assist him – on arguably the game’s finest player, Gary Ablett, during Saturday night’s clash against the Suns at Metricon Stadium was described by coach Neil Craig as “outstanding”.

Playing his first match under Craig – McKenzie’s most recent game was against Collingwood in round 11, which happened to be Mark Neeld’s last as Melbourne coach – the leader managed to restrict the brilliant Sun to 19 disposals.

It was the fewest disposals he’s had in a match since joining Gold Coast, aside from when he injured his knee against the Sydney Swans in round 16, 2011 and had just three touches.

The last time Ablett had 19 touches or fewer was when he was playing for Geelong against Adelaide in round 16, 2010.

To further highlight Ablett’s phenomenal record, he has averaged 31.93 disposals playing for the Suns. Overall in his career, he averages 24.57, further emphasising his status as one of the all-time greats.

But given McKenzie missed rounds 13 to 15 with an elbow injury and had spent the past four matches on the cusp of selection – he was an emergency on three occasions – to come back into the side and produce the impact he did was telling.

It reinforced the importance of a quality run-with player and just how important McKenzie is to the side, given his tenacity, concentration and role playing ability.

Craig lauded McKenzie, who also had 16 touches, on Ablett, plus the assistance of defenders Colin Garland and Mitch Clisby. 

“[McKenzie] needs to be recognised,” he said.

“We all know where Gary stands in the competition and probably the history of the competition in actual fact.

“So for McKenzie to have that game on him (Ablett) – I need to recognise the effort of the team as well, around stoppages and also when he goes forward. He’s a very dangerous forward as well, so we’ll take that.”

Craig said McKenzie was able to curb Ablett’s influence by a strong mindset.

“Jordie McKenzie’s a very determined, disciplined young man,” he said.

“I thought his teammates, maybe for the first time since I’ve been at the footy club, have actually joined in to help him. When [Ablett went] forward, our defenders Colin Garland and [Mitch] Clisby, but Garland in particular, would look after him.

“It was still a reasonable game from Gary – let’s be fair to him. It’s just that unless he gets [fewer than] 35 possessions [people think he’s had a quiet game]. He sets pretty high standards.”

Another leader - Colin Garland - also spoke about the respect he had for McKenzie and the effort he produced on Ablett.

“You think when you keep Ablett to 19 [disposals], you might be in the game. [McKenzie] did a fantastic job, but it hurts when the endeavour was there, but we shot ourselves in the foot,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“Jordie was back in the team for that role [on Ablett]. It was my job to have Ablett when he was forward, and he’s been playing a lot more forward lately.

“To be honest, my whole mindset was helping out Jordie, because I knew he had a tough job – it’s probably the toughest job in footy.”

Garland said McKenzie was not only a teammate, but a close friend, and that playing with him was a special part of the camaraderie shared.

“I’m really close mates with Jordie. It was fantastic to have Jordie back in the team. As a team, we tried to target him (Ablett) and we knew it was his 250^th and we just tried to put as much physical pressure on him around the ground at all stages,” he said.

“He (Ablett) still did some good things, but it was fantastic to have Jordie back in the side.

“It was good for Mitch Clisby to play on him here and there as well. It was a great experience for him, but I was really stoked for Jordie to play so well.”

And so were the red and blue faithful.