Mackie was set to leave

[rizzo]

Not sure if this was common knowledge, however apparently mackie was very close to leaving last year.

Apparently port was offering double what he was being paid at geelong. He wasn't happy with the club playing him as a forward, because he always knew he was a winger.

However bomber finally played him on the wing and that changed his mind.

 

[haywood jablome]

Talks about it in his thread

 

[hobart cat]

story here

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21990009%5E19766,00.html

Mackie: I owe the Cats
30 June 2007 Herald-Sun
Jon Anderson


ANDREW Mackie's decision to remain a Geelong player at the end of last year was symptomatic of a group that knew it had under-achieved.

Punt paid off: Andrew Mackie and the Cats are flying high this season. Picture: Michael Dodge
Despite what in Mackie's own words had been a "modest" 37 games since making his debut for Geelong in 2004, the versatile 192cm South Australian became a Port Adelaide target.
And the Power didn't muck around, putting a financially attractive three-year-deal on the table.The 22-year-old knew it was time to sit down and think.
Should he return home to family and friends he had seen very little of since being plucked at pick No. 7 in the 2002 draft as a green 18-year-old, or stick with the under-performing Cats? In the end it was a no-contest.
"Port's offer was a lot more than I deserved for what I had achieved with Geelong, even if my second half of last year was all right," Mackie said yesterday.
"Port had spoken with my manager during the year, but I wasn't aware of their interest until closer to the draft.
"What it came down to was me owing a lot of people down here (Geelong). They put a big investment in me, taking me where they did in the draft, and I owed them more than I had given.
"But that goes for us all. We owe this football club and owe this town, and I knew we had the team here to achieve more. The Geelong list is very deep."
Mackie is now at the forefront of that depth, playing as a regular across half-back, where his run and crisp delivery has been an important factor in Geelong's success.
This from a young man who was played as a forward on arrival at Skilled Stadium, despite the fact his 192cm, 74kg frame was never going to be strong enough to withstand forward-line buffeting.
Everyone who has given him advice during the past four years has highlighted his lack of strength, something of which Mackie is acutely aware.
"Because I wasn't in the mainstream system as a teenager, I didn't do the weights others did and I didn't understand hard work," Mackie said.
"I would go to the gym and do my weights, then come home and have a look in the mirror. I remember saying to myself, 'Hey Andrew, it just isn't happening for you, is it?'
"Last pre-season I did three extra 6am weight training sessions a week with people like Ken Hinkley, Steve Hocking and Brenton Sanderson. I put on 2kg to get to 83kg, about 5kg from where I want to end up."
Mackie is like most other AFL football players in that confidence is a huge part of his success. Although outgoing, he has previously had self-doubts about his game.
"I used to worry too much about what others thought and would get down on myself. Maybe it's a combination of maturity and confidence, but I now want to do well for myself as a matter of pride," said Mackie, who recently bought a house in the Geelong suburb of Newtown.
He knew that he had played his best junior football as a midfielder/defender, yet it was as a forward that Geelong continually used him.
He would play a couple of reasonable games then be straight back to the VFL when the team lost and his form followed suit.
Eventually he started to nag forward coach Ken Hinkley about a move up the ground with wing as the starting point. He got that chance against Carlton in Round 14 last year and hasn't looked back.
Wing became half-back, where Mackie is now learning from a man he regards as a total master in terms of versatility and desire.
"Darren Milburn plays like an animal and can play in so many spots. I'm in a good position to have someone like that to learn off," Mackie said before some more weight work.
So what's the difference in a Geelong side this year that 10 rounds out has won just one less game than it managed for the whole 2006 season?
As someone still making his way, Mackie doesn't profess to have all the answers. But he knows he plays with a club pushing in the same direction.
"From 'Bomber' (coach Mark Thompson) through to the guys on our list who aren't getting a senior game, we are moving together," he said. "In my time at the club, the leadership is set up so everyone gets their chance to have a say.
"Steve Johnson is a good example. He accepted the suspension handed out to him by the playing group and has come back really well, which is an absolute credit to him. Other clubs have since taken the same direction.
"It would have been hard for Steve to dramatically change his lifestyle, but maybe we are learning that is the way you have to go to take the next step."
For Mackie, the sacrifice involves neglecting that volatile investment portfolio known as the punt.
He has not had a bet in four months, and while not a big punter, would often find himself on his day off trying to make one favourite.
Now that time is spent with Western Bulldogs youngster Shaun Higgins working off their own bat for Our Women Our Children, a Geelong-based charity which aims to raise funds for a children's ward at Geelong Hospital.
There will be plenty of time for pursuing his love of thoroughbreds at the end of his career, although he and Brad Ottens recently took a quarter share in a highly rated broodmare.
Mackie has been warned that getting involved in racing horses is a risky and potentially costly business, but his passion is such that he wants to give it a crack.
Just as he wants to give his football a genuine crack with the Cats to repay them for faith shown during the past four years.

 

[CF]

Not sure if this was common knowledge, however apparently mackie was very close to leaving last year.

Apparently port was offering double what he was being paid at geelong. He wasn't happy with the club playing him as a forward, because he always knew he was a winger.

However bomber finally played him on the wing and that changed his mind.

I think you are misquoting Mackie personally. He said he stayed at Geelong because he felt he owed Geelong something taking him at pick 7 and giving him a go. He talks about prefering to play midfield/HBF when Geelong were playing him as a forward was frustrating him. He also said he pushed to get on the wing last year and when he finally got his shot he took it. It was on that form that Port offered him their deal. But Mackie stayed because he felt he owed the club.

 

[geelong16]

hes not our most pivotal player but hes a good one, you wouldnt want to lose him

 

[Ricketts]

Wasn't Corey Enright close to being traded to Port Adelaide also?

 

[grantyc77]

I for one are very happy we keeped him, i still think he has a lot of improvement in him too. He could be a real player if he keeps playing like he did tonight.

 

[Kittenish]

Wasn't Corey Enright close to being traded to Port Adelaide also?

PA's trying to steal our players. IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!

 

[PoidaCat]

He still needs to learn how to kick. (to our players) cause he does a good job kicking it straight to the opposition.

 

[thejester]

He still needs to learn how to kick. (to our players) cause he does a good job kicking it straight to the opposition.

Man, you could say that about the whole team.

He started playing a lot better in the second half of last year when he got moved up onto the wing. I thought his comments summed up the resolve of the team - they owe the club and the town.

 

[Inferno]

If he works on his kicking he will be a great player for years to come!

 

[MmkMrMackie]

The funniest thing to come out of the trade period, is that both Kelly and Johnson were floated around. Essendon and Collingwood both flatly refused a trade involving Johnson. Didn't want him... I think theyve got egg all over themselves now.

 

[rizzo]

The funniest thing to come out of the trade period, is that both Kelly and Johnson were floated around. Essendon and Collingwood both flatly refused a trade involving Johnson. Didn't want him... I think theyve got egg all over themselves now.

Ill prefer our freak goal sneak, who loves to get on the piss, instead of collingwoods freak goal sneak who hangs out with murderers

Cheers pies

 

[jim boy]

Mackie was set to leave

And up until about 3/4's through last season, I was set to say good-bye.

 

[Stripey PJs]

"Darren Milburn plays like an animal and can play in so many spots. I'm in a good position to have someone like that to learn off," Mackie said before some more weight work.

Was that really necessary, Ando?

Wasn't Corey Enright close to being traded to Port Adelaide also?

Yeah, Ricketts*. Speculation was strong that the Power were offering pick 11 (eventually Adam Thomson) for Enright (with possible extras from each side), when we were tossing cupboards and lockers scouring for that second Top 10'er to placate Richmond in the Ottens deal. In fact Port later insisted during a press conference that they WOULDN'T be trading pick 11 for Enright, that they'd NEVER entertain such a deal, that there was A BETTER CHANCE of Toby Thurstans winning the Brownlow.....after Geelong announced they'd secured the Dees 12th pick for Moloney.

*Just a suggestion buddy, get some sunshine.