Hawthorn young gun Cam Mackenzie’s future at the club has been thrusted into the spotlight despite a series of impressive performances this year.
Mackenzie appeared to have nailed down a spot in the Hawks’ best team after a hot start to the season that included a career-high 30 disposals in the win over Greater Western Sydney in Round 3.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mackenzie’s future in the spotlight.
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He played the first seven matches of the season before a broken hand suffered at training ruled him out of the next two.
The midfielder returned to face the Suns, but gathered just 13 disposals before he was subbed out the following week against Brisbane.
He then spent three weeks in the VFL before earning a recall to the senior side and playing the past three matches.
However, he was tactically subbed out of the match against Fremantle after gathering just eight possessions.
Mackenzie has impressed this year. Credit: Channel 7 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed Mackenzie’s manager met with Hawthorn’s list management team to discuss where the 21-year-old is at.
“He’s been in and out of the side this year. We know in the last four games he’s been subbed out twice in those games. In between, he spent three weeks in the VFL,” Cleary said on The Agenda Setters .
“It’s my understanding this has prompted conversation between his management and the Hawthorn list management group in the last 24 hours, where all the parties are up on the Gold Coast at the under-16 national championships, just probing as to where this guy’s at.
“He’s not getting a regular game right now, and they’ve got Will Day, one of their star-studded mids, not in the side at the moment. So what does the future hold for Cam McKenzie?”
Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes, who earlier this year said the talented midfielder could one day win a Brownlow, said rival clubs should absolutely try to poach him.
“I would absolutely be trying to inquire about this if I was another club. I think he’s got genuine AFL attributes that would make him a 200, 250-game player,” Cornes said.
“I think he’s got good sideways movement. He can break a tackle. He uses it pretty well. He’s clean.
“So for whatever reason, he has fallen out of favour repeatedly this year in a midfield that needs a bit more depth. And as you said, Will Day’s coming back, but they’re not stacked with midfielders.
“If there’s one area of their game that they’re struggling, it is in the midfield.
“So I don’t know. If I’m Essendon, dare I say it, if I’m Geelong, if I’m Collingwood to replenish their midfield with a bit of youth, I’d be absolutely inquiring about Cam McKenzie.”
Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge said the club hold Mackenzie in high regard and it would take a lot to prise him away from the club.
“Him going back to playing Box Hill — It’s about developing, about learning the game,” he said.
“So I still think Hawthorn have high hopes for him. They’ll have to offer a lot to get him out of the Hawthorn colours.”
Mackenzie has played 46 games since being drafted to the club with pick No.7 in 2022.
He is contracted until the end of 2026.