A member of expansion club Gold Coast’s inaugural list, Trent McKenzie made his name as a long-kicking half-back/wingman before making his way to Port Adelaide as a delisted free agent in 2017.
After two years in the AFL wilderness, ‘The Cannon’ completed a Lazarus-like return to the elite level. Having managed just 16 games in four seasons, McKenzie reinvented himself as a more traditional key defender and way a mainstay in Port’s backline, playing 17 games in 2020.
His strong play on the field was rewarded with a two-year contract extension before the end of the season and acknowledged with the Coaches’ Award (formerly Most Improved) at the John Cahill Medal evening.
AFL Honours
- Rising Star (Round 17, 2011)
- AFLPA 22under22 (2013, 2014)
Club Honours
- Max Porter Memorial Trophy (SANFL Most Consistent; 2019)
- Coaches’ Award (2020)