http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/articl...ong_sports.html

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiwM3WJgbho

Date of birth: 21/6/90

Height: 186cm

Weight: 71kg

Club: Geelong Falcons

Bio: A medium midfielder with good aerobic capacity, McKenzie is a versatile player who can win his own ball both inside and outside, and can also play defensive roles on a tall.

just from that footage, i like his quick inside work.

He'll need to be good because we took him ahead of Sibosado - even though we've recruited 8-10 other midfielders in the last two years and only one other KPP.

Good luck, Jordie

( sound like he might have a kilt in the wardrobe)

Pick 1 – Jordie McKenzie

Height: 186cm

Recruited From: Geelong Flacons

Player Type: Inside midfielder/tagger

“Inside midfielder with elite endurance, clean hands, good decision maker inside, 186cm. He will add an elite running midfielder who can win the football inside, and is a very good stoppage player. Good character, has fought back from a year out of the game with hip injuries in 2007.” - Barry Prendergast

……………….

Pick 17 – Rhys Healey

Height: 186cm

Recruited From: Oakleigh Chargers

Player Type: Inside Midfielder

“Midfielder with elite endurance and pace, good ball winner and goal kicking midfielder. Wins the ball on the inside and out and adds to our midfield stoppage work. Bendigo Pioneers' chief ball winner.” Barry Prendergast

He'll need to be good because we took him ahead of Sibosado - even though we've recruited 8-10 other midfielders in the last two years and only one other KPP.

Must be. Because we took him instead of Sibosado.

Seems to know what he's doing under pressure... That alone puts him ahead of most of the current list!

Seems to know what he's doing under pressure... That alone puts him ahead of most of the current list!

you cant emphasise this enough!! roll on 09..cant wait

Pick 17 – Rhys Healey

Height: 186cm

Recruited From: Oakleigh Chargers

Player Type: Inside Midfielder

“Midfielder with elite endurance and pace, good ball winner and goal kicking midfielder. Wins the ball on the inside and out and adds to our midfield stoppage work. Bendigo Pioneers' chief ball winner.” Barry Prendergast

Something wrong with this quote. Healey's a kpp from Bendigo.

1. Melbourne - Jordie McKenzie

Medium midfielder who displays clean hands and is a good decision maker. Wins his own ball both inside and outside, is meticulous with his preparation and a genuine competitor. Has elite aerobic capacity which allowed him to shin against some quality midfield opposition whilst playing for Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup. Attended the 2008 Victorian NAB AFL State Screening session where he recorded good results across speed, agility and endurance testing. The highlight was a 14.5 beep test result which placed him in the 90th percentile of players tested on the day.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl...7-19742,00.html

Something wrong with this quote. Healey's a kpp from Bendigo.

haha hope we drafted the right guy!!

Healy is mentioned elsewhere as a HB/HF flanker, good aerobic capacity... they could have an eye for him to play in the midfield in spite of where he's been played in the past.

No disrespect to Jordie McKenzie and the Melbourne recruiting staff, but I am really disappointed with this pick.

It reaks of a SAFE selection for the recruiting staff by taking a 180 something, elite endurance midfield type

over a KPP X factor type of the likes of Sibasado. If Jordie McKenzie never plays a game for Melbourne, or any other AFL

side for that matter, through his career, there will be no cries of foul over his 2008 rookie selection. No recruiting staff will

lose their job over selecting him. No article will be written on the potential lost by his delisting. Instead he will be seen

as a emergency depth player who has the potential to fill a void should injuries hit hard.

Now some of you may say that this is the exact purpose of the rookie draft, to provide depth to the list should the list be

desimated with injuries. To some extent I aggree, but when I watch footage of Casey Sibasado running around the park

and note the lack of KPP firepower currently in our forward line, something in me clicks. "This guy would be a good rookie

selection". Even with the potential of Watts and now Jurrah on our list, adding an excitement machine such as Sibosado to

our rookie list is surely a good idea. I know many of you feel the same way about this kid as I do, which probably means

you feel a similar frustration. I suppose it simply comes down to putting faith in our recruiting staff and the direction Dean

has us heading. Lets just hope that in 3 to 4 years time there isnt a superstar kid running around for Freo by the name

of Sibosado and Jordie McKenzie is nowhere to be seen.

i think you'll find that jurrah is our x-factor player for the day!

they breed them pretty well down at the falcons ([censored] football mangers excluded coughmickturnercough)

No disrespect to Jordie McKenzie and the Melbourne recruiting staff, but I am really disappointed with this pick.

It reaks of a SAFE selection for the recruiting staff by taking a 180 something, elite endurance midfield type

over a KPP X factor type of the likes of Sibasado. If Jordie McKenzie never plays a game for Melbourne, or any other AFL

side for that matter, through his career, there will be no cries of foul over his 2008 rookie selection. No recruiting staff will

lose their job over selecting him. No article will be written on the potential lost by his delisting. Instead he will be seen

as a emergency depth player who has the potential to fill a void should injuries hit hard.

Now some of you may say that this is the exact purpose of the rookie draft, to provide depth to the list should the list be

desimated with injuries. To some extent I aggree, but when I watch footage of Casey Sibasado running around the park

and note the lack of KPP firepower currently in our forward line, something in me clicks. "This guy would be a good rookie

selection". Even with the potential of Watts and now Jurrah on our list, adding an excitement machine such as Sibosado to

our rookie list is surely a good idea. I know many of you feel the same way about this kid as I do, which probably means

you feel a similar frustration. I suppose it simply comes down to putting faith in our recruiting staff and the direction Dean

has us heading. Lets just hope that in 3 to 4 years time there isnt a superstar kid running around for Freo by the name

of Sibosado and Jordie McKenzie is nowhere to be seen.

I get what you're trying to say but dedication and commitment need to be placed on th same level as X factor in my opinion. I'm willing to back a kid that might not be a tall, athletic and exciting freak but will be someone that is prepared to do absolutely everything in his power to help make it at AFL level.

No disrespect to Jordie McKenzie and the Melbourne recruiting staff, but I am really disappointed with this pick.

It reaks of a SAFE selection for the recruiting staff by taking a 180 something, elite endurance midfield type

over a KPP X factor type of the likes of Sibasado. If Jordie McKenzie never plays a game for Melbourne, or any other AFL

side for that matter, through his career, there will be no cries of foul over his 2008 rookie selection. No recruiting staff will

lose their job over selecting him. No article will be written on the potential lost by his delisting. Instead he will be seen

as a emergency depth player who has the potential to fill a void should injuries hit hard.

Now some of you may say that this is the exact purpose of the rookie draft, to provide depth to the list should the list be

desimated with injuries. To some extent I aggree, but when I watch footage of Casey Sibasado running around the park

and note the lack of KPP firepower currently in our forward line, something in me clicks. "This guy would be a good rookie

selection". Even with the potential of Watts and now Jurrah on our list, adding an excitement machine such as Sibosado to

our rookie list is surely a good idea. I know many of you feel the same way about this kid as I do, which probably means

you feel a similar frustration. I suppose it simply comes down to putting faith in our recruiting staff and the direction Dean

has us heading. Lets just hope that in 3 to 4 years time there isnt a superstar kid running around for Freo by the name

of Sibosado and Jordie McKenzie is nowhere to be seen.

I agree with you. And i felt like writing a post very similar to yours, But you could turn it around so easily.

I could see in a couple of years an article being written saying.

Melbourne recruiters have messed it all up by recruiting Casey Sibasado, a player with the wrong attitude and no fitness, and have passed on Jordie McKenzie, a player who shows great endurance and a good attitude.

No one will know for a couple of years what the right choice was.

Just watched the Youtube highlights of him. 3 kicks do not hit a target. 1st one he has two players bearing down, 2nd Blazes away into the forward line and 3rd is a mongrel kick that doesnt leave his boot well. Every other kick hits its target perfectly and are good decisions. Good disposals with his handballs too.

Im starting to like this kid.

No disrespect to Jordie McKenzie and the Melbourne recruiting staff, but I am really disappointed with this pick.

of Sibosado and Jordie McKenzie is nowhere to be seen.

Well said, the Voice. I couldn't agree more

I've seen Sibosado play - he has prodigous talent and was worth a gamble. If he does make it - he will be a match-winner.

I'm similarly disappointed with Healy and especialy Hughes.

We let 4-5 young talls slip through. There might only be a 5% chance that any of these make it - may be less - but having concentrated on midfielders for each of the last two national drafts, you'd reckon that it was a chance worth taking. Talls take longer to develop - and you need tall options to win a flag.

The only way we'll get any value out of McKenzie and Healy will be if our national draft picks don't work out - and if Valenti doesn't come on. Do we believe in Morton,Grimes, Maric,Cheney,Blease, Strauss, Bennell, Jetta and Bail or don't we?

THe cliub should have backed its earlier decisions and gone for something different here.

No disrespect to McKenzie & Co ....but the policy which lead to their selection smacks of caution. No risk - no return

Well said, the Voice. I couldn't agree more

I've seen Sibosado play - he has prodigous talent and was worth a gamble. If he does make it - he will be a match-winner.

I'm similarly disappointed with Healy and especialy Hughes.

We let 4-5 young talls slip through. There might only be a 5% chance that any of these make it - may be less - but having concentrated on midfielders for each of the last two national drafts, you'd reckon that it was a chance worth taking. Talls take longer to develop - and you need tall options to win a flag.

The only way we'll get any value out of McKenzie and Healy will be if our national draft picks don't work out - and if Valenti doesn't come on. Do we believe in Morton,Grimes, Maric,Cheney,Blease, Strauss, Bennell, Jetta and Bail or don't we?

THe cliub should have backed its earlier decisions and gone for something different here.

No disrespect to McKenzie & Co ....but the policy which lead to their selection smacks of caution. No risk - no return

Last night hoopla I was thinking the along the same lines.

However a nights sleep and thinking this morning put me to this conclusion.....

Sibosado has been overlooked by every club on several occasions there must be skeletons that the uninformed people like me must be missing. Many people were calling for a Sibosado/DeBore double. Now Sibosado has stat issues that tells me he has trouble getting his hands on it. De Bore has well documented kicking issues. Solution - MFC take Jurrah who is being touted outside of the MFC as being a good footballer not just a side show like Sibosado will likely become. Mckenzie has all the attributes of Debore but can kick.

I really think that the MFC got these right. I would have personally liked another ruckman on the rookie list just in case jake spencer does not come on. But all in all I would give the MFC 9/10 for PSD and Rookie. I'm going to take a keen interest in freo over the next 2 years to see if either debore or Sibosado come on but I doubt it.

I agree with you. And i felt like writing a post very similar to yours, But you could turn it around so easily.

I could see in a couple of years an article being written saying.

Melbourne recruiters have messed it all up by recruiting Casey Sibasado, a player with the wrong attitude and no fitness, and have passed on Jordie McKenzie, a player who shows great endurance and a good attitude.

No one will know for a couple of years what the right choice was.

Yes, good point. Good perspective you've shown here, rather than have your head buried in the sand like others.

No disrespect to Jordie McKenzie and the Melbourne recruiting staff, but I am really disappointed with this pick.

It reaks of a SAFE selection for the recruiting staff by taking a 180 something, elite endurance midfield type

over a KPP X factor type of the likes of Sibasado.

I felt the same way. After the National Draft, where we rightfully targeted mids after Watts, I thought the opportunity to go for a high risk/high reward selection with our no. 1 psd/rookie selections. We've done that with Jurrah, but played it safe with McKenzie.

I felt the same way. After the National Draft, where we rightfully targeted mids after Watts, I thought the opportunity to go for a high risk/high reward selection with our no. 1 psd/rookie selections. We've done that with Jurrah, but played it safe with McKenzie.

I'm not so sure about playing it safe with Mckenzie, he has missed a lot of footy (injured since 07) therefore there still could be a very good player in the making.

But if i am reading into this MO64 you would have prefered if the 1st rookie pick was more high risk/ High reward tall? I was on the Sibasado wagon prior to the draft but after taking Jurrah that spot on the list is taken. So therefore I think we will have to trust the club that Mckenzie was the best available player for us. Who knows what he could develop into with a full year of footy under his belt.

I really believe Sibasado will be nothing more then a side show (a poor mans richo) which we don't need at the club now we have a better player in jurrah

I've gotten used to a lot of uneducated opinions on this forum, but this thread takes the cake.

Have fun guys, see you at the end of next season.

I've gotten used to a lot of uneducated opinions on this forum, but this thread takes the cake.

Have fun guys, see you at the end of next season.

So we're to assume that all your opinions are educated?

I've gotten used to a lot of uneducated opinions on this forum, but this thread takes the cake.

Have fun guys, see you at the end of next season.

Are you giving us TheShaft?

But if i am reading into this MO64 you would have prefered if the 1st rookie pick was more high risk/ High reward tall?

Correct. Like The Voice said, it's nothing against Jordie McKenzie. I'm talking about player type, rather than best available.

We've stocked up on our mids/small defenders through the National Draft, and I would have liked to have seen us draft another tall with an X factor. And if Sibasado ends up being a poor man's Richo, Freo would be ecstatic.