Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn : Pick 7, Cam MacKenzie, extends to 2026!

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Fleabane]

It’s mental with him. He looks apprehensive and overly cautious and low on self belief
The player I saw in pre season was quite different.

Not just pre season. He was brilliant in his debut - actually earned a MVP nod? He does seem not entirely comfortable out there (although does some nice things) but he's not getting a lot of consistent goes at it. He's shown enough earlier in the season for me to feel very confident about his future though.

 

[smish]

Has copped a fair share of criticism since Sunday, arguably fair as wasn't his best game which happens.

I'm confident Cam has the highest ceiling of any of our draftees of the past three years and am confident he will become the "best" of the lot.

He played 64% TOG, the only players lower than that were our subs Blanck and Shammy. Add to that playing one of the hardest positions on the ground as a HHF.

His skills are sublime and that's something you can't teach. It even took Wardy a while to get up to the speed of the game, JHF to stop fumbling etc. Give him another preseason or two and we will be laughing.

 

[daniel23]

My biggest concern with him is his lack of speed. In juniors he actually showed he had a decent burst from stoppage but has seemed very flat footed and reactive alot of the time.

 

[Mojo]

My biggest concern with him is his lack of speed. In juniors he actually showed he had a decent burst from stoppage but has seemed very flat footed and reactive alot of the time.

It's his first season - it's a massive step up in speed, endurance, skills, etc, from U18.

Look at what a player can do/is doing in their first season, rather than what they aren't doing.

 

[Blackhawk42]

DGB, Ward and Mackenzie all look like they have a while to go.

Hopefully another pre season does the trick, but at the moment it looks like we could have done a fair bit better with our top 10 picks

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Two of them are teenagers. Of course they have a long way to go...

If you haven't seen Wards improvement this season you haven't been watching closely enough.

As for Mackenzie, he started strongly but has tired at senior level as the season has progressed. Can I remind you that 3 years into his career, people were already writing off Hugh McCluggage. That's just one example. Give Cam more than 1 season please.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Only 2 games ago Cam had 12 posessons in 40% game time. A week earlier, he also had 12 from 47% game time.

People jumping to draw an early conclusion on where his development should be after 10 full games of footy, is quite ridiculous.

 

[TFFM]

Yep. He's a smooth mover and a classy ball user who naturally lowers his eyes to assess options. He also tackles.

He's a 19yo in his first AFL season.

Last week he wasn't great but has shown a lot - its R21 - stick with him.

 

[theiaofseed]

Ward a disappointment.
Mackenzie is slow.

Christ this forum is a joke a times.

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[Roger Rogerson]

I reckon CMAC28 follows the Jordan Lewis

Jordan Lewis

Age

39

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.5

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

11.5

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.7

4star

MG

310.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

15.0

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.8

5star

pathway. Never going to be quick enough to chase players down but will be an effective runner in time that is offensively geared as a high possession ball winner and class user. And more than likely similar to Lewis will be a size that can block at stoppages.

 

[Tomohawks]

Two of them are teenagers. Of course they have a long way to go...

If you haven't seen Wards improvement this season you haven't been watching closely enough.

As for Mackenzie, he started strongly but has tired at senior level as the season has progressed. Can I remind you that 3 years into his career, people were already writing off Hugh McCluggage. That's just one example. Give Cam more than 1 season please.

Who the hell were they? I've never heard anyone ever state that he wouldn't be a great player at the very least. Cam will be fine, he looks a little tired but he has real talent as demonstrated earlier in the year.

 

[dermott]

Ward a disappointment.
Mackenzie is slow.

Christ this forum is a joke a times.

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Astounding isn’t it.

 

[The Chad and I]

I reckon CMAC28 follows the Jordan Lewis pathway. Never going to be quick enough to chase players down but will be an effective runner in time that is offensively geared as a high possession ball winner and class user. And more than likely similar to Lewis will be a size that can block at stoppages.

or the Sam Mitchell 'QB/architect' role as a release or just behind the ball.

 

[Titch3Votes0MooreAA]

As a leader of the Cameron Mackenzie fan club, I am quite perplexed by some of the commentary here. Yes, he certainly didn't have a great game, and he would know that, and he has looked slower than I thought he would at the AFL level. But he can improve on his athletic traits, and look at what he has done thus far. He is already one of the cleanest users of the ball by both foot and hand and is quite reminiscent of Sam Mitchell in that regard. He's also not just a clean kicker of the ball but an intelligent kicker who can find players up forward where others can't while under intense pressure. As for his ability in traffic, he is very clean and just finds a way to create time and space for himself no matter the number of opponents surrounding him. He has also proven that he is a leader through action. For example, when he was substituted against Brisbane, he made his impact felt and helped us win when the game was still up for grabs. He did the same the week before that against Port (of course, under different circumstances). Just a few weeks ago in the VFL, he helped Box Hill win in a thriller against North by rising to the occasion in the last quarter, showing his class, smarts, ability to find space in traffic, and composure.
So yes, he hasn't blown the house down in the way that Nick Daicos has, but he has shown all the attributes that could potentially make him the best out of our elite young crop of midfielders.

 

[peetoo]

This. Hawks need better ball users. Sometimes when younger they aren’t consistent. They are good ball users though

 

[Hawkspot]

I’m super excited about him. He’s going to be better every year for the next 7-8 years.

He has skills that can’t be taught. Small improvements in his power/strength and a natural maturing of his body will result in him becoming a gun.

 

[The Chad and I]

My biggest concern with him is his lack of speed. In juniors he actually showed he had a decent burst from stoppage but has seemed very flat footed and reactive alot of the time.

A lack of speed rarely stops a player reaching elite performance.
Being slow often does.

Mackenzie is not slow.
Far from it.

 

[burger09]

He and Ward are nice guy, neat mids.
Good prospects.
But are they missing they that intangible competitive pr#ck DNA.

Sam had it, Hodgey had it, Lewis had it, Burgone was a good guy hard bastard.

Smith an Hill not so much but both athletic freaks.

I hope it's in there waiting to boil over.

 

[Billyc]

He and Ward are nice guy, neat mids.
Good prospects.
But are they missing they that intangible competitive pr#ck DNA.

Sam had it, Hodgey had it, Lewis had it, Burgone was a good guy hard bastard.

Smith an Hill not so much but both athletic freaks.

I hope it's in there waiting to boil over.

It’s an interesting point. I know exactly what you’re talking about. Who has shown it in the current side - Sicily, Newcombe, Worpel, Nash, Moore, Hardwick, Frost, who else?

We do seem to have a focus on drafting on character which is a good thing in terms of professionalism. But they still need a bit of c*** in them like their coach had.

 

[marklar]

It’s an interesting point. I know exactly what you’re talking about. Who has shown it in the current side - Sicily, Newcombe, Worpel, Nash, Moore, Hardwick, Frost, who else?

DGB?

 

[naysayer]

Every time he's been dropped this year he's made the most of his time at Box Hill. Expect to see him back and finish the year in the seniors.

 

[toomanysquibs]

A lack of speed rarely stops a player reaching elite performance.
Being slow often does.

Mackenzie is not slow.
Far from it.

Definitely the opposite of slow!

We've done speed in other threads and it really wasn't appreciated that much... but he's quick.

Two way running mid with breakaway clearance speed and next level disposal.

Bloody awesome pick, nothing safe or vanilla about him!

 

[MasterSamurai]

McKenzie WILL be more than just a nice Vanilla mid! Just give the kid at least 20 or so more games ffs! He's a beauty when he gets going. He can do things in congestion our mids can't do. Patience.

 

[natio]

It’s an interesting point. I know exactly what you’re talking about. Who has shown it in the current side - Sicily, Newcombe, Worpel, Nash, Moore, Hardwick, Frost, who else?

We do seem to have a focus on drafting on character which is a good thing in terms of professionalism. But they still need a bit of c*** in them like their coach had.

In terms of competitiveness, I reckon Connor Mac and Weddle also.

I know most probably won't agree but Koszinski is a competitive beast too. Just think he lask natural footy talent and nouns unfortunately.

 

[play2win]

Looks to be a great talent with his decision making and kicking skills. I’m sure he will work through it with game time and experience (or maybe I’m completely misreading him), but he appears to be extremely anxious/nervous with his set shot goal kicking.
I am so excited with what our midfield will be in 1-2 years.

 

[Titch3Votes0MooreAA]

He has been the good luck charm as the substitute this year. Each time he has come on, we have won or picked up our performance. Cam just finds himself in an unfortunate position at the moment as probably the 23rd or 24th man. And that's only because of how good our midfield group already is and having Maginness there as the tagger who plays all over the ground. We've all seen the great qualities that Mackenzie possesses, which could make him the cream of our young elite crop. He may take a few years to breakout due to our midfield depth, but we have a versatile midfield with players who can play in multiple positions (Newcombe and MacDonald up forward, Day can obviously play in defence or on the wing, and Ward could swing back if need be). He will make a role for himself at some point; it may just take a while. Keep the patience.