The YJFL would like to congratulate Ellie McKenzie on being the number one pick in the 2020 AFLW Draft.
Ellie is a long-standing player of the YJFL starting her career back in 2011 at the Fitzroy Junior Football Club. She was the second ever female registered at Fitzroy and began playing with the under 10 boys, at eight years old. From then on, her career in the juniors never wavered. 17 games in her first season, 17 games in her second and third as well, Ellie was becoming the star she is today.
Ellie was Fitzroy’s second ever registered female footballer
For Fitzroy, Ellie played a total of 125 games from 2011 to 2019. During those years Ellie also represented the YJFL in Metro Representative Games 11 times. For three years Ellie played in the Youth Girls competition where she proved herself as the future of female footy. In 2017 she was named as ruck rover in the Youth Girls Team of the Year, 2018 as rover and 2019 as rover. In the 2019 Youth Girls representative game against Oakleigh Chargers, Ellie was named best player on field for the YJFL in their 62-point victory.
Ellie also won the league best and fairest medal in her under 15 year in a tie with current Bulldogs player Katie Lynch (drafted 2018 #11). In 2014, her under 12 year she was named Fitzroy’s James Doughney Club Champion of the Year.
Ellie McKenzie and 2019 AFLW draftee, Nell Morris-Dalton
Ellie has had the best junior career possible that has put her in the position to be the number one draft pick.
Even though the 2020 NAB League season was cut short, Ellie had started off her season extremely strong. The Draft Central Medal count had her at equal first after three games, after two best on ground performances. The co-captain of the Northern Knights and in her third season at the club Ellie has not been a stranger to a standout performance. Her first game as a bottom-ager was an eye opener to her potential, where she booted three goals. In 2019 Ellie was named an All Australian in the AFLW under-18 championships.
High flying marks have become a natural part of Ellie’s game
Ellie has had an enormously successful junior career and the YJFL wishes her all the best in the AFLW and in her first season at Richmond.
Recent Media
AFL 360
Ellie on SEN1116 – Garry and Timhttps://www.yarrajfl.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Ellie-McKenzie-on-SEN-Breakfast-07.10.20.mp3
Tigers take elite kicking McKenzie AFLW’s newest No.1 draft pick Ellie McKenzie ‘absolutely stoked’ to be a Tiger Ellie McKenzie says it would be an honour to be the AFLW Draft’s No.1 pick Sports mad McKenzie hoping to hit the ground running No.1 contender on Tiger links, Hawk idol and sports-mad family Road to the Draft: Ellie McKenzie Draft Video
