Rhys McKenzie is one of the rising stars Mooroopna is depending upon to left lift the Cats up the ladder this season.
The 17-year-old Mooroopna Secondary School student played his first senior game for the Cats against Shepparton Swans in the opening round of matches at Princess Par, Shepparton, a fortnight ago when he was named in the Cats best players.
The 180cm, 75kg midfielder was “stoked” to be among the Cats best and his game on Saturday against Shepparton United was a further indication this young man is deserving of nomination in the Mooroopna Golf Club Rising Star Award.
The award winner will be announced at the Morrison Medal in August along with the netballer’s future star.
The son of Chris and Annette McKenzie of Mooroopna won the Cats Thirds best and fairest last season while being coached by another local product and former star player, Billy Wong, who was a member of the Cats 1985 and ‘86 premiership side which contained many locally produced players.
The Cats are hoping the local lads can once again take them to the Promised Land with Rhys and his mates, the likes of Boyden Fallon and Dean Smith, who were both rising star nominations last season, Jake McCormick, Cody Tancred and Matthew Cleary rising to the occasion.
Fallon was among the Cats goal kickers while Smith was named in the best against the Swans.
On Saturday, they had the pleasure of being in the Cats combination which finally won against the Demons, who had beaten them in the last eight encounters. This time it was the Cats, who had the last laugh albeit by three points.
It just shows what can happen when the local lads get their chance at senior level.
Rhys said he found senior football “way quicker, way faster and bigger bodies” with his pace coming into play to get him out of trouble.
He said he was it was good playing with the local lads because “you know everyone, not scared to speak to anyone and we’re all playing together.”
Rhy’s four brothers _ Justin, 28, Ashley, 18, and twins Mitchell and Kody, 14 _ have all tried out at footy and shown promise but not to the extent of Rhys, who played 18 games with Mooroopna Thirds last season, 19 games in the Under 16s and 31 games in the Under 14s.
The live wire who is doing Year 12 at Mooroopna Secondary is also studying plumbing at TAFE and on the completions of this year’s studies hopes to get a plumbing apprenticeship.
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 18:30
