Ben McKinley
Encyclopedia
Benjamin "Ben" McKinley is an Australian rules football
er currently playing for the North Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He previously played for the West Coast Eagles.
where he played for the Old Ivanhoe Football Club. McKinley also played for the Northern Knights
in the TAC Cup
competition where he attracted the eye of talent scouts.
. McKinley has played predominantly as a forward for East Perth
in the WAFL
. He made his debut for the West Coast Eagles
in Round 15 2007 against Port Adelaide
.
After kicking seven goals against West Perth in Round 2, he was a late inclusion into the West Coast team for the Round 3 Western Derby
and kicked three goals. The following week, he kicked four of his team's five goals against Sydney
. A five-goal effort in the Eagles' loss to Port Adelaide in Round 5 saw him nominated for the Rising Star award. A notable performance was the Essendon clash late in the season, with the Bombers needing a win to get to September, McKinley single handedly destroyed Essendon with a 7 goal man of the match performance. http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23573731-5005401,00.html. He finished the season as West Coast's leading goalkicker and was named Rookie of the Year at the Club Champion Awards http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24445321-948,00.html.
. West Coast agreed to trade Ben McKinley to the North Melbourne Football Club in exchange for pick 86 in the 2010 AFL Draft.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er currently playing for the North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He previously played for the West Coast Eagles.
Early life
McKinley played all of his junior football (U10's - U17's) with the Yarrambat Junior Football Club. He attended Ivanhoe Grammar SchoolIvanhoe Grammar School
Ivanhoe Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, day school, located in Ivanhoe and Mernda , both located in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
where he played for the Old Ivanhoe Football Club. McKinley also played for the Northern Knights
Northern Knights
The Northern Knights are an Australian rules football club playing in the TAC Cup, an under-18 competition in Victoria, Australia. They are based in Preston, representing the northern suburban area of Melbourne....
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
competition where he attracted the eye of talent scouts.
2005–10: West Coast Eagles
McKinley was recruited by the West Coast as the number 29 draft pick in the 2005 AFL Draft2005 AFL Draft
The 2005 AFL Draft was the 2005 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.The 2005 Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period...
. McKinley has played predominantly as a forward for East Perth
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
. He made his debut for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
in Round 15 2007 against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
.
After kicking seven goals against West Perth in Round 2, he was a late inclusion into the West Coast team for the Round 3 Western Derby
Western Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
and kicked three goals. The following week, he kicked four of his team's five goals against Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. A five-goal effort in the Eagles' loss to Port Adelaide in Round 5 saw him nominated for the Rising Star award. A notable performance was the Essendon clash late in the season, with the Bombers needing a win to get to September, McKinley single handedly destroyed Essendon with a 7 goal man of the match performance. http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23573731-5005401,00.html. He finished the season as West Coast's leading goalkicker and was named Rookie of the Year at the Club Champion Awards http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24445321-948,00.html.
2011–present: North Melbourne 2011
During the 2010 AFL Trade Week, Ben McKinley requested a trade to North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. West Coast agreed to trade Ben McKinley to the North Melbourne Football Club in exchange for pick 86 in the 2010 AFL Draft.