Eric Mackenzie (footballer)

Last updated

Eric Mackenzie
Personal information
Full name Eric William Ross Mackenzie
Nickname(s) Eazy
Date of birth (1988-05-19) 19 May 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Perth
Original team(s) Christ Church Grammar School
Draft No. 29, 2006 national draft
Height 196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 100 kg (220 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
20072018 West Coast 147 (7)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2018.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Eric William Ross Mackenzie (born 19 May 1988) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from Claremont in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Mackenzie was drafted by West Coast at the 2006 National Draft, and made his debut during the 2007 season.

Contents

Career

West Coast Eagles

Mackenzie was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2006 AFL Draft. [1]

A key position defender, he had his best season to date in 2014. He replaced the retiring Darren Glass as the club's leading backman and was named acting co-captain of the club for the remainder of the season, along with four other players. [2] He ended the year by winning the Eagles' best and fairest award, the John Worsfold Medal, beating Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis by 11 votes. [3]

He missed the entire 2015 AFL season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in West Coast's first pre-season game of the year against Carlton. [4]

In the final minutes of the 2017 Elimination Final played against Port Adelaide Power, with scores level, Mackenzie kept Port Adelaide from scoring a behind, throwing the full force of his body into the point post in the process. [5] This helped force the Elimination Final into extra time, where the Eagles emerged victorious.

Mackenzie retired at the end of the 2018 season, after consistent troubles with injury. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Coast Eagles</span> Australian rules football club

The West Coast Eagles are a professional Australian rules football club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and first competed in 1987 as one of two expansion teams in the Australian Football League (AFL), then known as the Victorian Football League. The club plays its home games at Optus Stadium and has its headquarters at Lathlain Park. The West Australian Football Commission wholly owns the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Football Club, the AFL's other Western Australian team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Worsfold</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1968

John Richard Worsfold is a former Australian rules football coach and player. He had a long association with the West Coast Eagles as player (1987–1998) and coach (2002–2013), captaining the club to premierships in 1992 and 1994 and coaching the club to a premiership in 2006. He was also the senior coach of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) between October 2015 and September 2020.

Peter Matera is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is regarded as one of the greatest West Australians and indigenous players being a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame and Indigenous Team of the Century as well as being 5 time All-Australian and 2 time premiership player.

The John Worsfold Medal is an Australian rules football award presented annually to the player(s) adjudged the best and fairest at the West Coast Eagles throughout the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL) season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Embley</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1981

Andrew Gerard Embley is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is known for winning the Norm Smith Medal as the best player in the 2006 AFL Grand Final.

Samuel Butler is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). A talented underage soccer player from Gawler, South Australia, who only took up football as a teenager, he was drafted by West Coast with the 20th pick at the 2003 National Draft, having played in a SANFL reserves premiership for Central District the year he was drafted. Butler debuted for West Coast during the 2004 season, and was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award. A mid-sized defender and occasional midfielder, he played in West Coast's 2006 premiership team, but missed the entire next season due to injury. Butler has struggled with injury throughout his career, only playing his 100th game during the 2013 season, ten seasons after his debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Jones (footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer

Brett David Jones is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Jones represented Western Australia in under-18 football and under-19 cricket before being drafted by West Coast at the 2004 Rookie Draft. Playing mainly in defensive roles, he played in the club's 2006 premiership victory over Sydney, overall playing 102 games for the club before retiring at the end of the 2011 season.

Adam Hunter is an Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Hunter was born in Bunbury, Western Australia, and played with the South Bunbury Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) before being recruited to West Coast with the 29th pick overall in the 1999 National draft. Playing mainly in defence, though occasionally at centre half-forward, Hunter played a total of 151 games for the club between 2000 and 2009, including the 2006 premiership win.

Matthew Harley Priddis is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Schofield</span> Australian rules footballer

William John Schofield is an Australian rules footballer who formerly played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). At 196 centimetres tall and weighing 92 kilograms (203 lb), he is a versatile defender who has played key-position and half-back roles throughout his career. West Coast drafted him from the Geelong Falcons with pick 50 in the 2006 national draft, and debuted in round 17 of the 2007 AFL season. Schofield has played in two AFL Grand Finals: a loss in 2015 and a victory in 2018. He achieved life membership at West Coast in 2016 after playing 150 games for the club. He retired following the 2020 season.

David Thomas Hynes is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) between 1991 and 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nic Naitanui</span> Australian rules footballer

Nicholas Naitanui is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was born in Sydney to Fijian parents, and his family moved to Perth, Western Australia after his father's death. Growing up in Midvale, Naitanui attended Governor Stirling Senior High School, and played football for the Midvale Junior Football Club. After representing Western Australia in the 2007 and 2008 AFL Under 18 Championships, he debuted in 2008 for the Swan Districts Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Naitanui was drafted by West Coast with the second pick in the 2008 National Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Shuey</span> Australian rules footballer

Luke Shuey is a former Australian rules footballer and former captain of the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He retired at the conclusion of the 2023 AFL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Gaff</span> Australian rules footballer

Andrew Gaff is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played predominantly as a midfielder.

The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football team based in Perth, Western Australia. Their 2011 season was their 25th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), their tenth season under premiership coach John Worsfold, and the fourth season with Darren Glass as captain. In the previous season, West Coast finished last on the ladder to receive their first wooden spoon. West Coast began their 2011 season with a four-point win over North Melbourne on 27 March. At the conclusion of round ten, West Coast had won five of their nine games and lost four, but over the remainder of the season they won 12 of their 13 games to finish fourth at the end of the regular season. In the finals series, the club lost their qualifying final to Collingwood by 20 points. They defeated Carlton in a home semi-final, but lost to Geelong, the eventual premiers in a preliminary final at the MCG the following week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliot Yeo</span> Australian rules footballer

Elliot Yeo is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Brisbane Lions between 2012 and 2013. Yeo won a premiership with West Coast in 2018, and is a dual All-Australian, dual John Worsfold Medallist and dual Glendinning–Allan Medallist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the West Coast Eagles</span>

The West Coast Eagles is an Australian rules football club based in Perth, Western Australia, currently playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club was formed in 1986, and played its first season in the competition in 1987. Having lost the 1991 grand final to Hawthorn, the club won premierships in 1992 and 1994, becoming one of the most successful teams of the 1990s. West Coast won its third premiership in 2006, but declined afterwards, finishing last in 2010, before undergoing a rapid resurgence the following season to finish fourth in 2011.

The 2014 season was the West Coast Eagles' 28th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), the premier Australian rules football competition. The 2014 season also marks the first season of the club's reserves affiliation with the East Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). West Coast finished thirteenth in the previous season, despite having made the finals in the two preceding seasons. At the end of the 2013 season, previous coach John Worsfold retired, after twelve seasons in the position, and was replaced by Adam Simpson, who had not coached previously at AFL level. Darren Glass was retained as captain for a seventh season, with Josh Kennedy and Scott Selwood as vice-captains. However, Glass retired from football after round 12, and was replaced by five acting co-captains: Shannon Hurn, Kennedy, Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, and Selwood. Undefeated in the 2014 pre-season competition, West Coast started its season against the Western Bulldogs on 23 March. The club failed to qualify for the 2014 finals series, finishing its season in ninth place, with 11 wins and 11 losses. Priddis won the highest individual award, the Brownlow Medal, Beau Waters won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, and Mackenzie was the club champion winning the John Worsfold Medal. No players from West Coast were selected on the All-Australian team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy McGovern</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1992)

Jeremy Ronald McGovern is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a tall key-position player who has spent most of his career as a defender, although he occasionally plays forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Barrass</span> Australian rules footballer

Thomas Donald Barrass is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He has played as a key defender since his junior career with Claremont. Barrass was drafted by West Coast with pick 43 of the 2013 national draft, but did not make his senior debut until round 17 of the 2015 AFL season. He was nominated for the 2016 AFL Rising Star and won a premiership with West Coast in 2018. He has most recently joined the Hawthorn Hawks in the 2024 AFL Continental Trade Period.

References

  1. "The 2006 Draft". TheDrafter.net. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008.
  2. Alex Malcolm (13 June 2014). Up to five could rotate West Coast captaincy – Australian Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  3. Hagdorn, Kim (4 October 2014). "West Coast Eagles defender Eric Mackenzie awarded John Worsfold Medal for best player". PerthNow. News Corp Australia.
  4. "West Coast Eagle defender Eric Mackenzie set to miss season after tearing ACL". 28 February 2015.
  5. Robinson, Chris (9 September 2017). "Eric Mackenzie comes up with heroic save to force extra time in Eagles final".
  6. King, Travis (12 September 2018). "Veteran Eagles defender hangs up the boots". afl.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 12 September 2018.