Keith McKenzie (Australian footballer)

Keith Alexander McKenzie (26 April 1922 – 8 January 2018)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Keith McKenzie
Personal information
Full name Keith Alexander McKenzie
Date of birth (1922-04-26)26 April 1922
Place of birth South Melbourne, Victoria
Date of death 8 January 2018(2018-01-08) (aged 95)
Original team(s) North Melbourne Colts
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1944–1951 North Melbourne 130 (12)
1952–1954 Moorabbin (VFA) 046 (21)
Total 176 (33)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1966–1970 North Melbourne 82 (23–57–2)
1972, 1975 Carlton 02 00(2–0–0)
Total 84 (25–57–2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1954.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

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The son of Thomas Frederick McKenzie (1896–1955) and Olive Frances McKenzie (1896–1991), née Solly, Keith Alexander McKenzie was born at South Melbourne on 26 April 1922.[2]

War Service

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McKenzie enlisted to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force with his parents' permission in June 1941, aged 19. He served in Darwin and then New Guinea as a flight rigger with the 77th Squadron before moving back to Melbourne so serve at the 1st Aircraft Depot at Laverton in early 1944.[3]

Football

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McKenzie started his football career with the North Melbourne Colts before he enlisted, and joined North Melbourne at the start of the 1944 season.[4] He won the Syd Barker Medal, awarded to North Melbourne's best and fairest player for the season, in his third year at the club and went on to represent Victoria five times.

After finishing his playing career, McKenzie went on to coach both North Melbourne and Carlton.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Former North Melbourne and Carlton coach Keith 'Macca' McKenzie dies at 95". The Age. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  2. ^ "World War II Roll: Keith Alexander McKenzie". Department of Veterans Affairs.
  3. ^ Cullen, Barbara (2015). Harder than football: league players at war. Richmond, Victoria: Slattery Media Group. p. 394. ISBN 978-0-992379-14-8.
  4. ^ "North Melbourne Has High Hopes". The Argus. No. 30, 459. Victoria, Australia. 12 April 1944. p. 10.
  5. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (7th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 526. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
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