Fast forward to 2012 - McKenzie is now one of the most respected Demons and has become a run-with midfielder capable of curbing some of the best in the business.
Hailing from western district town Terang, the genuine country lad has adapted to his AFL career and city life with minimum fuss.
But the 22 year-old hasn’t had it all his way. He has had to contend with several injuries, including a groin injury last year. And while his friendly disposition is one of the first traits noticed with McKenzie, so is his fierce determination on the field.
And it is this quality which has won him his admirers.
McKenzie has won the past two Norm Smith Memorial Awards (coach’s award) and received the Trident Award (for the player who performs their role the best) from his teammates.
This round against the Brisbane Lions, McKenzie will play his 50th AFL match - even he agrees that it’s “snuck up” on him.
“It doesn’t seem long ago that I was playing my first game. To notch up 50 is a nice little milestone. It feels like yesterday [that I made my debut]. It’s nearly four years and it flies. It’s been a great journey so far,” he said.
“We haven’t had as much success as we’ve been striving for, but we’re all working hard and hopefully, in the next 50 games, there will be a lot more success.
“I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”
McKenzie was drafted in December 2008, when he was claimed at No.1 by Melbourne in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft. But he didn’t believe that he would be drafted at that time.
“I probably didn’t think at the time that I’d done enough to get selected, but I was lucky enough that Melbourne called me out,” he said.
“I’d been training a couple of weeks at Melbourne trying to put my best foot forward, so it was good to get the nod from Melbourne.”
This year, McKenzie has taken his game to another level, running with some of the competition’s elite midfielders. He said he wants to keep playing on the competition’s best midfielders.
“I’ve been lucky enough to run with [Chris] Judd at one stage and Ryan Griffen and Brendon Goddard … they’ve all been challenging roles and they’re different types of players in their own right too,” he says.
“You’ve got to adapt to their game style and try and restrict them to the best of your ability. So there are challenges each week being thrown up.
“Growing up, I was a West Coast supporter and looked up to Chris Judd, so to be able to play against him - let alone on him - you really pinch yourself.”
McKenzie agreed he had “taken a few steps forward” in 2012.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t make much progress over the pre-season - it was fairly interrupted and I didn’t fire a shot in pre-season, which is disappointing, because I wanted to build on my fitness,” he said.
“But I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to string a few games together and build on the fitness as the season has gone on. That’s been a positive.
“Getting some continuity with my training and playing has helped a few areas in my game, so I feel as though I’m improving - I’ve got a long way to go.”
After McKenzie’s first season in 2009, Adelaide sounded him out. But the then rookie opted to remain a Demon and forge a career in the red and blue.
“I didn’t really look into it too much. Melbourne was good enough to give me an opportunity on the rookie list, and I didn’t think I’d done enough in junior footy to get selected,” he said.
“For Melbourne to give me an opportunity on the rookie list and stick by me - I was always keen to try and repay their faith, so that’s what I’m still trying to do.
“I was always keen to stay with Melbourne and hopefully I’ll stay with Melbourne for years to come. I never really spoke to Craigy or anything about that type of thing.”
McKenzie is well liked by his peers, but he has forged some close bonds with a few Demons drafted around his era.
“I’m good mates with Grimesy and big Pencil, Jake Spencer, so I’ve been close with those guys from when I first came here,” he said.
“Rohan Bail got drafted in the same year and you form great relationships with these types of guys.
“I live with Jeremy Howe, and you find that when you get drafted in the same year, you do get on well with everyone, but then you form a special relationship with those guys.
“No doubt, I’m pretty close to them, and will be for a long time.”
Away from the game, McKenzie is keeping an eye to the future, studying exercise science.
“I do a bit of part-time uni, so that keeps me busy, going there with James Frawley at ACU in the city,” he said.
“We’re also doing a course through the club as well, where we’re developing as personal trainers.
“On our day off, we try and keep busy and do something outside of footy.”
But in terms of football goals, McKenzie said building his leadership and being part of a successful side were his ultimate aims.
“No doubt, it’s part of the game that I’m continually looking to develop - on and off-field - as are all of the boys around the club,” he said.
“Just looking forward, the goals are to improve a lot and have a lot more success. Over the last few years we’ve had a few good wins, but we haven’t strung consistent performances together or enough to challenge the top eight.
“We’ve got a long way to go as a group, but we’re working really hard and no doubt in the next period of time, we’re looking to turn it around and string consistent performances together - and we’ll see that on the scoreboard, hopefully.”
