TRENT MCKENZIE might be sidelined with a knee injury at the moment but he has reason to smile with the announcement of a one-year contract extension.
The reliable and experienced defender is expected to miss four to five weeks of football after suffering a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
At a press conference on Wednesday after it was announced he’d remain at Alberton until at least the end of 2024, McKenzie spoke of his desire to play a role in the club’s finals campaign despite the slow rehabilitation period to come.
The 31-year-old also discussed his bond with coach Ken Hinkley and the reason for some of his teammates staying away from the club on Wednesday.
Trent McKenzie on his new contract:
“It’s an exciting young group going forward and to be part of that is very exciting so I’m really happy.
“I’ve been pretty unlucky with the injuries I’ve had so if I can get some luck moving forward, that would be nice. The body actually before these injuries was actually pretty good and holding up pretty well so hopefully touch wood that continues. I still feel like I’ve got a lot of football to give.”
Trent McKenzie on his PCL injury:
“I’ll be in this brace for a couple of weeks just to keep it straight and help with the recovery. So hopefully nothing goes wrong with that but it’ll be pretty slow these first couple of weeks to let it heal and I won’t be doing too much on it.
“It’s something I haven’t done before, this type of injury, so it’s hard to tell but going off the recent injuries, coming back pretty quick, hopefully that can happen again. I think I’ll have to take it slow and steady with this one and look after it and see how we go.
“The first final is in five weeks so that’d be the aim I reckon.”
Trent McKenzie on his bond with Ken Hinkley and his hope that the senior coach joins him in re-signing with the club:
“Hopefully he does. We get along really well so hopefully he stays around as long as I’m here at least.
“He was my assistant coach at the Gold Coast in my first few years. I was pretty young but he’s a great man and looked after me. When I made the trip over to Adelaide, he really put the faith in me. I was having some hard times in my career at that stage but he got me over and really looked after me and gave me the confidence and the belief that I could still play at the highest level so I thank him for everything he’s done for me.
“The good thing about him as a coach is the relationship he has not only with the young players but also the older players as well.”
Trent McKenzie on a few players not taking part in a light recovery session at Alberton on Wednesday:
“There’s a little bit of illness going around the footy club at the moment. There were only a few out there today but I think most of that is precautionary so hopefully we don’t spread it any more and we have everyone available for the weekend but there is a little bit going around at the moment.”
Trent McKenzie on the side’s current form:
“I think the Collingwood game was a pretty important one, that we took it all the way to them and they were in some good form at the time. Then on the weekend with things going against us that with some nice depth and if we play the right way then the results will come.
“Obviously, it’s four losses we didn’t want but moving forward it gives us some confidence that’s for sure.”
