Fact Peter McKenna's career

[Collingwooditis]

I said he was my favourite footballer, not my favourite singer!
But really, his voice is perfectly competent, carries a tune just fine, with no flats or sharps, and for 1971 it wasn't that bad. That said, it aint that good either! He doesn't really push his range or vocal ability, the song is an American sounding stinker, and the 1971 Aust. TV studio video isn't exactly high quality! I remember watching 'Happening 71' and thought it was the ducks guts in hip, up to the minute music TV! Sheesh! I was as wrong as Jeff's cravat! But hey, I was 6! what's your excuse!

 

[Collingwooditis]

Anyway, it's for his onfield exploits that the great man will be remembered. He was undoubtedly the greatest Full-Forward in living Collingwood History (None of us are old enough to remember Coventry).
He really was the complete package up forward, combining the marking and leading power of Trav with the ground skills of Daicos, and the kicking of Ryan Lonie! But more importantly than anything, when Macca marked thirty out dead in front you could literally mark it down in your footy record... in PEN! It was not a fifty-fifty proposition as it is these days for Trav and most others. Thats why he kicked 838 in a mere 180 games, compare this to Trav, who is a great player himself, with 350 goals from 10 more games! He averages 1.5 Goals to Peter McKenna's 4.5. A THIRD! And he was also way better value! How many games would you get out of Trav for 25K per year?
And sure, we can say it was a different game then and that Trav plays further up the ground etc, but that simply isn't the important factor, the important factor is that Macca simply kicked a whole lot straighter! The year after the awful song above he kicked 130 goals and just 53 behinds from a mere 225 kicks! He was also a far more versatile forward, brilliant at leading, taking pack marks, fighting for the loose ball, he could do it all and then kick goals from anywhere, including outside 50 (even though there was no line), and for some reason he never, ever dropped a simple chestmark as modern players seem to do with ridiculous frequency! Separate issue of course, but what is the reason that modern players make so many incredibly basic skill errors? Dropping marks, fluffing kicks and handballs? My guess is that the modern player and the coaching staff are far more concerned with the 'tank' than the basic footy skills, but I really don't know. It just amazes me! Even in Freo's incredible performance we saw many such clangers including Mayne dropping a ten metre chestmark 2 feet out from goal on his own. How!? My Mum would take that mark 9 times out of ten! (granted, her endurance isnt what it was and her last beep test results were only average). It's a mystery! I'm not suggesting that footy or its players were better in the 70's, like I said it's a different game, but if you look at Maccas highlight reel on youtube, its hard to see how he wouldn’t be able to play the modern game! Although the full press would doubtless take a toll.
Anyway, Vale Peter McKenna, we won't see your like any time soon!

 

[Dan Cooper]

I was filling my car with petrol about 2 years ago. Looked up, and the guy filling the car next door was Peter McKenna.

McKenna was an absolute gun. Probably the best kick for goal the game has seen IMO, whether statistics support that argument or not.

 

[UpForGrabs]

Anyway, Vale Peter McKenna, we won't see your like any time soon!

He's not dead yet is he?

 

[Dan Cooper]

He's not dead yet is he?

He's definitely still with us