Kane and very able

[Dale61]

http://www.leadernews.com.au/article/2008/08/27/41830_footy_home.html

KANE McKenzie saw the positives in being dropped back to the Williamstown reserves earlier this season.

"It was good to go back and have a run around with all my mates," he said.

"Most of my mates play in the twos."

A greater positive though is the fact that the demotion allowed the 175cm back pocket rocket to regain top touch.

He has since returned to the senior line-up in the best form of his career.

McKenzie had developed into a fixture in the Seagulls' defence in recent seasons after arriving from Spotswood.

But, unfortunately for the 24-year-old, the influx of big name recruits into the Seagulls' line-up this year and the new alignment with the Western Bulldogs, compounded by a rough patch of form, saw him shuffled out.

The always tenacious Kane McKenzie.

"It was very disappointing at the start," he told the Leader.

"Very disappointing to get dropped.

"I played every senior game last year."

McKenzie, who finished ninth in the Seagulls' best and fairest in 2007, was left out of five senior games throughout May and June this year.

"It wasn't so much that I was playing bad football," he said. "Other blokes had come into side and stepped up.

"I just kept plugging away (in the reserves) and it got better and better.

"Then I got my opportunity back up in the seniors.

"(I) got a full game under my belt and it was all heads up from there."

McKenzie, who is renowned for his toughness at the ball, has played the last eight senior games now, reunited with what has become a formidable backline, alongside full-back Scott Meyer and returning centre half-back Jason Cloke.

"I think over the last four weeks I've probably hit some of my best form I've played down at Williamstown," he said. "It's been great."

McKenzie's return to form was highlighted by a dominant 35-possession display against the Bendigo Bombers in round 18. The Bombers were held to just one goal.

McKenzie's previous best disposal haul was 26 last year.

"It was probably my best game.

"I didn't think I'd be able to get it (a number like 35) in the back pocket though," he said.

"The player I was playing on was sort of pushing up the ground.

"I think in the third quarter they had an 18-man flood or something like that.

"It was pretty much just rebound out of their (forward) 50 or our half."

Now fully entrenched back in the 'ones', McKenzie is hoping the side can make amends for two disappointing preliminary final appearances in the last two years.

He said a more experienced line-up with players like Cloke, Ben Jolley, Callum Urch and Matthew Little coming in this year should help come finals time.

"Last year we had such a young side we weren't able to handle the pressure of finals footy," he said.

"Hopefully this year we can go a couple of games better, and play off in the Grand Final."