JORDIE McKenzie spent his time in the AFL guarding some of its biggest stars.
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Now the former Melbourne tagger, who rated two-time Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd and four-time Hawthorn premiership player Sam Mitchell as his toughest opponents, is ready to highlight his versatility.
McKenzie, 25, has signed with SANFL club North Adelaide for the 2016 season.
The Terang Mortlake export will take 79 games’ AFL experience with him to the Roosters – a club hoping to rise up the ranks under former Port Adelaide and Fremantle midfielder Josh Carr.
McKenzie, who played one game for the Demons in his final season, said he could play a variety of roles for North Adelaide.
“It would be good to be able to develop other areas of my game which I think I did to a degree in the VFL this year,” he said.
“I played as a wingman and at half-back and felt I improved and became more versatile and was getting my hands on the ball more.
“The defensive side is something that comes more naturally.”
McKenzie will visit Terang for his mother’s birthday before driving to South Australia on Monday to begin pre-season.
He will live with former Melbourne teammate Mitch Clisby, who is also on North Adelaide’s list.
McKenzie, who spent seven seasons at Melbourne, said the chance to try out a new competition lured him to the SANFL.
“I went over a couple of times and got a feel for the league, the following and how big that is,” he said.
“I got a sense of the history of all the clubs and I thought it (moving there) was a good opportunity.”
The desire to add to extend his AFL career still burns for McKenzie.
But he said his chances of getting picked up via the national or rookie drafts next week appeared slim.
“I haven’t had a lot of interest at the moment to be honest so it’s a long shot to get another opportunity,” McKenzie said.
“If something came along in the AFL it’d be a bonus because I still have the passion and dedication to get the best out of myself.”
Melbourne cut McKenzie in October.
The Terang Mortlake premiership player said he’d take “lifelong memories” with him from his time in blue and red.
“I still love the club and I am not bitter,” he said.
“To a degree the writing was on the wall given I hadn’t played much footy in the seniors this year.
“It was a great opportunity the club gave me in 2008.
“To be able to run out on one of the most famous grounds in the world in the MCG was unbelievable.”